amongst fattening Sheep and Lambs. 497 



arily, by the mechanical impediment offered to the evacuation of 

 its contents through the natural channel, and will, therefore, 

 require but little of our attention in considering the best means 

 of treatment for the evil in question. 



If I am right in the view I have here taken of the true nature 

 of these affections — and I have had very many opportunities of 

 investigating the subject — the treatment to be observed, whether 

 preventive or curative, can scarcely be a matter of controversy. 

 When the disease is found to prevail to any extent amongst a 

 particular flock, attention must be immediately directed to the 

 exciting causes, and these will for the most part be readily 

 enough ascertained. As I have already hinted, the character of 

 the diet, the absence of water, and the want of exercise, are the 

 most probable causes. It is not easy, perhaps, to specify at all 

 times the exact article of diet most in fault. Often, doubtless, 

 it is rather a combination of several ingredients, than any one in 

 particular, to which the mischief is attributable ; but, as far as 

 my own observation goes, I am inclined to think that the 

 saccharine roots, and j)articularhj mavgold-icurzel, are especially 

 injurious, although it must be borne in mind that those articles 

 of food in which starch is abundantly found, such, for example, 

 as barley, wheat, and the like, are equally productive, under 

 particular circumstances, of these sabulous deposits. So far as 

 is practicable, therefore, the preventive treatment must always he 

 initiated by such an alteration of the diet as icill exclude those 

 articles ichich abound largely in saccharine and starchy matters, 

 and an allowance of moderate exercise and free access to water loill 

 do the rest. The effect of a regimen like this is most marked, 

 and I have had many opportunities of observing and approving 

 its beneficial results. 



The curative treatment of the disease is a more serious and 

 difficult matter. Generally, it is true, when we are dealing 

 with wethers alone, the most economical plan is to hand over 

 the affected animal to the butcher at once, and to endeavour 

 to arrest the further extension of the malady by the simple 

 preventive means to which I have just pointed. Cases will 

 often arise, however, where it is desirable to prolong the 

 animal's life, and most especially is this the case in highly-bred 

 rams, in which I have found the disease to be particularly fatal. 

 As these animals often possess a value far, very far beyond what 

 the butcher would give for them, their treatment is just as much 

 a matter of interest and consideration to the farmer as that of 

 either his horses or his cattle, and it is desirable, therefore, that 

 I should enter somewhat at length into this most important 

 division of the subject. 



An observant shepherd will first be made aware of the 



