DISEASES OF SHEEP AND GOATS 207 



appear towards the end of the protracted season of 

 draught, therefore a deficiency of water must be regarded 

 as one of the conditions which favors its development. 



Symptoms: Appetite diminished; rumination, or 

 chewing the cud, irregular; tongue coated, mouth slimy, 

 feces passed apparently not well digested and offensive 

 in odor, dullness and fullness of the flanks. This disease 

 may, in some cases, assume a chronic character, for in 

 addition to the above mentioned symptoms, slight bloat- 

 ing of the left flank may be observed. The animal 

 breathes with great difficulty and grunts with each res- 

 piration. The ears and legs alternately become hot and 

 cold. The rumination, or cud chewing, at this stage 

 ceases and the usual rumbling sound in the stomach is 

 not audible. The passage of feces is entirely suspended 

 and the animal passes only a little mucus occasionally. 

 Sometimes constipation and diarrhoea alternate ; there is 

 a rise in temperature in many cases. The disease con- 

 tinues for a few days or a week in this mild form, 

 while the severe form of the disease may last for sev- 

 eral weeks. In the severe form the emaciation and loss 

 of strength may be very great. There is no appetite, 

 no rumination or rumbling sound in the stomach or 

 intestines. The mouth is hot and sticky, the eyes have 

 retracted in their sockets and the milk secretion has 

 ceased. In such cases the outlook for recovery is un- 

 favorable. The affected animals fall away in flesh and 

 become very weak, which is shown by the fact that one 

 finds the animal lying do^vn. 



On examination of sheep or goats which have died of 

 this disease, it is found that the lining membranes of the 

 fourth stomach and intestines, particularly the small 

 intestines, are red, swollen, streaked with deep red or 

 blushed lines or spotted. The lining of the third stomach 

 is more or less softened and may be easily pealed off. 

 The third stomach contains dry, hard food masses, closely 

 adhering to its walls. In some cases the brain appears to 



