206 OSTRICH-FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



let a beast recover so far as to get up and nibble, 

 and it may be considered out of danger. The surest 

 indication of this disease is a swelling above and round 

 the eyes. 



Spon-sickness : this, or some disease closely re- 

 sembling it, has always been very fatal with young 

 stock on the coast-lands, but of late years it has made 

 its appearance in a virulent form on some farms on the 

 veldt, between the hard Karoo and the sour veldt. It is 

 in no way infectious ; but if one beast dies of it the 

 farmer mast take alarm, as the same causes will have 

 been at work with the whole of them. It is essentially 

 an inflammatory fever, and is only seen in stock that 

 are' in good condition, or those that are running rapidly 

 into condition. The great thing is to reduce them 

 down by kraaling them at night, and keeping them 

 in till late in the morning; and a seton made of rough 

 tow, and dipped in turpentine, cantharides, or some 

 other irritant, can be inserted in the dewlap, and occa- 

 sionally pulled to keep up an irritation. If a beast is 

 once affected, a cure is very doubtful, but purgatives and 

 bleeding are the right treatment. 



Tape- worm, even in full-grown cattle, has been 

 getting somewhat common of late. It is known, as 

 with the Ostrich, by the segments being seen on the 

 dung. It can be cured by giving 3 ozs. of turpentine 



