GICHTEL, giK'tel, JOHANN GEORG (1638 1710). A German theosophist. He was born in Regensburg, and was a lawyer by profession. In 1664 he came under the influence of the The osophists, and thenceforth devoted himself en tirely to their doctrines. His teachings brought him frequently into conflict with the authorities. Banished from his native town, he betook him self to Holland, where the same experience was repeated. After 1668 he lived at Amster dam. He founded an order whose members called themselves 'Angelic Brethren,' because they renounced marriage. He made the first collected edition of the writings of Jakob Boehme (Amsterdam, 1682). His own writings appeared in a collected edition at Leyden in 1722, and his biography, in connection with Boehme's, was written by Harless (Leipzig, 1882).
GID (from giddy), or STURDY. A disease of sheep, caused by the presence of the larva of a tapeworm ( Teenia ccenurus) in the brain. Before the life history of this parasite was discovered the larva was known as Conurus cerebralis, which sometimes attains the size of a hazelnut. It floats in a watery fluid inclosed in a membranous sac. Should the larva be eaten by a dog, it becomes a vermiform parasite, and lays eggs which, being voided by the dog, may be picked up by the sheep while grazing, finally to reach the brain by way of the arteries. Rabbits and even sheep may also
serve the same office as the dog in the life cycle of the worm. The afflicted sheep staggers when moved, turns stupidly around almost in one spot, usually toward the side upon which the parasite lies, and loses flesh because these conditions in terfere with food-prehension. The parasite and its sac may generally be safely removed by plac ing the sheep, with its feet tied, on a table or bench, searching for the softened portion of the skull, which generally overlies the hyatid, laying back a flap of skin, and introducing the trochar and canula, and when the sac is deep-seated, cau tiously withdrawing it with the help of a small syringe. Protected by a leather cap and simple water-dressings, the wound speedily heals. In preventing the spread of this disease, which is especially common in low, damp pastures, and among sheep from 6 to 20 months old, it is desir able to burn the heads of affected sheep, other wise they may be eaten by dogs in which the im mature tapeworms would develop to the adult egg-laying form.