TEST OF DRENCHES FOR WORMS IN SHEEP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3042, 14 January 1892, Page 2

TEST OF DRENCHES FOR WORMS IN SHEEP.

Thk chief inspector of stuck for New South Wales—«ays the Otugo Witness of September 3rd. 1891—recently published a report of special tests of various drenches for worms in sheep carried out ly the Stock department under the pnsunul supervision of the Government veterinanau. Mr Stanley. All the well known drenches were tried as follows :—Castor oil and turps, kerosene and salt, lime and rait, sulphur and salt, arsenic and snda, carbolic acid, sulphate of iron, turpentine alone was also tried, as were salt and kerosene as separate drenches. It appears, however, out of all this formidable array of specifics no one was sufficiently officacious to enable Mr Stanley tu say that the tests were satisfactory as regards the cure of lung-worm, stomach-worms, or the t.-i|»-worr»is. Fourteen sheep were drenched with each specific, and on the seventh day after two of each lot were killed and a careful poet-mortem made. The result was not byanymeann conclusive, as living worms ot the different kinds were found apparently none the worse for the treatment. A slight improvement, it was thought, was afterwards noticed in the sheep dosed with turpentine ; and this improvement was more noticable after a second drench of castor oil and tarps. From the tenor of the report I gather that the Government veterinarian considers that breeding from too young ewee, overstocking, and consequent scarcity of feed causing sheep to get into such a low condition as to be unable to resist the encroaches of worms, are the chief things to guard against. He considers that breediug of the young sheep with free use of salt and a little sulphate of iron, is all that is required to keep sheep free from worms. After all these red-tape experiments it appears that the flockowners are juet_ an wise as they were before, for I do not think that the advice above stated regarding liberal feeding, free use of salt, etc., is news to anybody who knows or cares anything about sheep, Nothing is said in the report about fumigation by sulphur, etc., which was all the rage a few years ago when the lung worm first became troublesome; but that, like the host of other specifics, would probably prove of little effect. The chief inspector of stock in hie endeavour to make a presentable report of decent length, meanders along with what he considers good advice to sheepfarmers respecting frequent changes of feed, etc., but this padding contains some rather contradictory remarks. Though he admits " that the efforts made by the department to settle the question of the efficacy of the different drenches tested have to »large extent been unsuccessful," lie says in another place that drenching must be done in certain parts of the country (New South Wales), and in certain seasons, for there is no doubt that it does good when the right remedy is used, forgetting that by his own showing the tight remedy has yet to be discovered for worms in sheep.

Fortunately for sheep-owners in this part of the colony a specific in Larnoy'e Anthelmintic, has been discovered, and every day fresh prnnfg and testimonials are forthcoming rerifying its thorough efficacy and value to stock-owners. Under the new proprietorship, its valuable properties will soon be brought to the notice of flock-owners generally, a.* we understand that Mr Priran, the eenior partner, is mak'ne arrangements for an extenJed trip through New Zealand and the Australian colonies. We predict for this valuable rempdy such a rapid and extended sale, so soon as it has been properly broueht to the notice of the outside public, as will be eminently gratifying to the new firm. Wβ make this statement with some authoiity, as, in addition to the long list of splendid testimonials already published, we have had an opportunity of reading a number of others since received, and sent unsolicited to Mr Larney. These are from the largest, oldest, and most practical sheepfarmers in the Waikato and the surrounding districts. From the results obtained from so many and varied sources, and in many cases probably made with a_ certain amount of incredulity, we are justified, seeing that no failures have beep recqrded, in eayini; that a certain, safe, and absolute specific for lungworm in sheep ie put within reach of sheep-owner* throughout the world in Larney'.-i Anthplmi"t : c.