i6j ^n the Management of Shep May 



dlftemper begins to abate, the (heep rub themfelvcs on the po(i6 

 of the racks, or any other hard fubflance which comes in their 

 way ; and by this means, the wool, along with the loofe (kin, 

 and dried pus, are rubbed off. If proper precautions were not 

 employed, this would infallibly fpread the contagion, by infect- 

 ing any other (heep that might be brought into the fame cots : 

 But, on purpofe to deilroy the infe(2:ion, new cribs are cither 

 fubftitured for the old ones, which are pulled down and burnt, 

 or elfe the infe£led cribs are walhed with cream of lime *, and 

 the cots are thoroughly fumigated with burning juniper znd 

 other aromatic plants. 



There are feveral varieties of this diforder. In fome of thefe, 

 the eruption of pultules is by no means complete, as above de- 

 fcribed : fometimes the pimples grow black, And dry up without 

 coming to fuppuration ; at other times, the difeafe is of a com- 

 plicated nature. But as the diforder only appears at difliant pe- 

 riods, among the flieep at Cauterets, we are not to expecl very 

 full information, concerning its various degrees, from the fhep- 

 herds of that di{lri(£^', neither have they any decided experience 

 of the effeCls of fulphur, of fetons, or of blillers, in the cure 

 of this diftemper. Blillers are faid to have fcarcely any effect 

 upon the Ikins of (lieep. 



It is certain that the flefh of fuch fhecp as have died of 

 this diforder is very unwholefome, has a very bad taftc, and is 

 even dangerous to eat •, and they add, that when dogs happen to 

 feed on it, they catch the difeafe, and fpread it by infeclion. 

 Three cats belonging to the late Mr Delifle, a member of this 

 Society, by eating this food, had their heads afiecled with an 

 eruption of puftules, by which they were firit blinded, and af- 

 terwards loft their lives. Hence the necelTity of the precaution, 

 which is taken at Cauterets, to bury deeply the carcafes of (beep 

 which die of this difeafe. 



I had an opportunity, at a butcher's in Paris, to examine fome 

 (heep which had died of this diforder. The (kins were covered 

 with fuppurated puftules, which penetrated as far as the cellu- 

 lar membrane, and the fat in their neighbourhood was affcded, 

 for a confiderable diftance all round, being browner and firmer 

 than the ordinary fat *, and this alteration penetrated even to the 

 flefh. The inhabitants of Cauterets affirm, that thefe puftules 

 are found on the liver and other internal parts of the body. 



1 made every pofiible inquiry to learn if tliis difeafe was ever 

 communicated from the (heep to mankind, but could learn no 



inftance 



* Quicklime and water, mixed into a proper confiftence for whit?- 

 wafhing. 



