496 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XXXIX. 



stantly turning round in one direction, in whatever side of the head tlie 

 bladder may be contained. Trepanning has been attempted, but with little 

 effect. A cure has also in some instances been made, by thrusting a wire 

 up the nostril and destroying the bladder ; but we believe, that more sheep 

 die under the operation than are relieved by it. It also occasions great 

 agony, and unless there be a very skilful person at hand to perform it, it is 

 more advisable to slaughter the animal when seized by the disease. 



Ticks, or Sheep-lice, are small brownish flat insects, by which sheep are 

 very commonly mfectcd, particularly if they be not in a healthy condition. 

 They seldom, however, occasion niorethan temporary inconvenience, and may 

 be destroyed by a strong infusion of tobacco-water, which may be prepared 

 by boiling the tobacco in salt-water; or a wasli ot any weak mercurial pre- 

 paration. The sheep may be bathed with a large brass syringe, and one 

 of an ordinary size, if that instrument be employed, will not occupy more 

 than five minutes.* 



The scab is a cutaneous eruption on the skin analogous to the disorder 

 known in dogs and other animals as the mange, and generally commenc- 

 ing with the itch. It is occasioned by an impure state of the blood, arising 

 chiefly from bad feeding in wet ground, and is so highly contagious 

 that if once introduced it very materially lessens the value of the farmer's 

 whole stock of sheep ; for no prudent man will purchase out of a flock 

 which is infected, although the animals ofl'ered for sale may be apparently 

 sound. 



The symptoms of the itch are first indicated by small white spots on the 

 wool, which make their appearance a good while before either the animal 

 begins to scratch, or the smallest eruption appears upon the skin, and the 

 best remedy is any of the common applications of sulphur. If that does 

 not efl'ect the cure, and the intense itching continues, blotches then ap- 

 pear upon the skin, wliich assumes a fretted appearance, and if neglected, 

 soon discharges a fetid ichor which eventually becomes scab. The wool 

 becomes foul ; the animal loses flesh, and if not cured, sinks under the con- 

 stant irritation under which it suffers. He should, therefore, be immedi- 

 ately separated from the flock ; and if the disorder be taken at an early 

 stage, it may be removed by any of the common washes of tobacco-juice, 

 soft-soap, and urine, or salves of which brimstone forms the chief ingredient. 

 When more virulent, the ointment recommended as a cure for the sheep- 

 maggot — if the arsenic be omitted — is said by Hogg, in his "Shepherd's 

 Guide,'' to be an efl'ectual remedv ; the mercurial composition sold by most 

 country apothecaries as " sheep-ointment," and vitriolic acid, lowered 

 ■with water, have also been i'ound very efiicacious, but they require care 

 and skill in their application. 



The disease, even in its worst state, is by no means incurable, but when 

 the eruption appears under the remedy, and on being destroyed in one part 

 reappears in another, no doubt can then remain that the mass of blood is 

 aifecled, and as no topical apjilication can then succeed, internal remedies 

 become absolutely indispensable. Purgatives, of a cordial nature, are per- 

 haps the best ; but, if the disease arises from poverty, abundance of whole- 

 some food will also be found necessary. Sheep, however, though in the 

 highest condition, are sometimes infected by coming in contact with posts 

 and fences against which scabby sheep have rubbed themselves ; it is, 

 tlicrefore, only a necessary })recaution in regard to these, as well as any 



* See Trans, of the Highland Society, N. S., toI. vi. p. 254,, in which there is a cut 

 of a syringe expressly used for this pui-pose. 



