Ch. XXXIX.] ON DISEASES. 503 



The hunger-rot is a name which speaks for itself: it is occasioned by 

 poor living;, especially during the winter, and is best cured by better keep. \ 



Blindness has been attributed by some to the pollen of flowers blown into 

 the eyes in summer ; and in winter, by the days being sunny, and the even- 

 ings cold and frosty, as well as to the sheep being buried under snow ; 

 while Mr. Hogg states that it is brought on by continued fatigue and hard 

 driving. These reasons, however, appear to be groundless, as it has 

 attacked sheep which have never been exposed to fatigue in the latter end 

 of autumn. The ooject, however, being rather to cure ihe disease than to 

 account for its cause, we sliall here give an extract from an account given 

 by Peter M'Farlane, esq., surgeon, of Gartmore-house, who slates, " that 

 the eye-balls have a very singular appearance, the whole surface being 

 light blue. The diseased sheep, three of which were affected, were cut 

 under the eyes, according to Mr. Hogg's plan, and in three or four days 

 they were all well." 



" Cold and wet were probably the cause of the disease ; but whatever 

 may have occasioned it, it leaves inflammation, and therefore blood-letting 

 as near as possible to the eye is the surest mode of treatment. It should be 

 performed immediately under the inner angle of the eye, on the side of the 

 nose. The manner of performing the operation is thus : — Lay the sheep 

 on its back, and keep it there by assistants ; then the operator, with a sharp 

 instrument, cuts the blood-vessels on the inner angle of the eye, one or 

 both, as the case may be, at about a quarter of an inch below the angle. 

 The wound must be deep, or at least such as to allow the blood to flow 

 freely ; and should it not do so at the first incision, he must cut a very 

 little lower or higher. He would also recommend the exhibition of salts 

 so as to open the bowels freely*". 



Having is common to sheep, as well as to all cattle which are suddenly 

 turned from poor pasture into succulent artificial grasses, or upon turnips 

 and rape. Care should therefore be taken to give them a little dry food in 

 the morning of the three or four first days, so as to partly fill their stomachs, 

 until they become accustomed to the new food, by gorging themselves 

 with which they are sometimes so swoln with flatulence, as to die in great 

 agony. Half a pint of linseed oil given to each sheep with a horn occa- 

 sions them to vomit, and is never known to fail f. Care should also be 

 taken to prevent lambs from feeding upon the charlock, which is com- 

 monly found among cole and turnips ; though to old sheep it will not 

 occasion any injury. 



The accidents solely applicable to ewes are those o? slipping the lamb 

 and protrusioji of the uterus, after lambing ; the first occasioned chiefly by 

 the animals being hard driven, or worried when heavy with young, and 

 sometimes by their being cast into ruts, where they fall upon their backs, 

 and being unable to rise without assistance, if it be not afforded, they 

 perish. It has been also attributed to the feeding of the ewes upon rape about 

 ChristmasJ. The second happens occasionally after a ewe has had a diflScult 

 labour, tlie pains of which force part of the uterus to the orifice, in which 

 case it should be returned as soon as possible ; but, if not confined, it 

 is again apt to protrude. To prevent this, different methods are used : 



* See Prize Essays of the Highland Society : N. S. vol. iv., p. 395. 



■}■ Sussex Rep., p. 336. It is generally supposed that food which is wet from the 

 raiu or dew occasions it; but EUman, of Glynde, says, " that he always chooses to tura 

 his sheep into such crops at that time ; but when quite dry, and the leaf at all withered 

 from a hot sun, the danger is considerable." 



% Sussex Rep. p. 336. 



