PART I I I. 

 DISEASES OF SHEEP. 



CHAPTER I. 

 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 



ANTHRAX FEVER. Known as Black-leg; Quarte\ 

 ill ; or the Black Spauld of the English Shepards, o 

 as one of the " Murrains " of this country. It effect: 

 young and thrifty sheep, and is rarely found ii 

 old and poor stock. It is most common in we 

 seasons, in the early spring, or summer and fall, anc 

 when the feed is very luxuriant. The sheep gorg< 

 themselves with the rich vegetation, and the diges 

 tion being overtaxed, the system is disorganized anc 

 the sheep suddenly droop and die. On examination 

 the wool leaves the skin at the slightest touch, anc 

 the body is found to be swollen and blackened ir 

 large patches, chiefly on the hind or fore-quarter 

 Air is infiltrated under the skin and the carcas seem: 

 already decomposed and full of black blood. On ex 

 amining the flock, some will be lame or limping, th< 

 eyes red, and the mouth and tongue inflamed anc 

 blistered, and on passing the hand over the sides 01 

 quarters, they will be found swollen, the wool readil] 

 coming off, and a crepitation be heard from the con 



