206 



THE ROT. 



SYMPTOMS. The first thing which indicates the presence 

 of this disease, is the unwillingness of the affected animal 

 to move about. It lags behind the flock, ascends a slope 

 with difficulty, and has a listless, heavy, pithless appear- 

 ance. Cough, varying in frequency and violence, but ex- 

 tremely harassing, is present at every period of the dis- 

 ease, and is always increased on the slightest exertion. 

 At first, this is accompanied by expectoration of the mucus 

 of the air tubes ; but in no long time purulent matter, in- 

 dicative of more extensive inroads on the constitution, be- 

 gins to be coughed up, and goes on increasing in quantity 

 and becoming worse in quality, till the termination of the 

 disease. The wool becomes fine, white, thin, and brittle 

 in the pile, and is easily brought away in masses by the 

 slightest pull. The appetite is, throughout the disease, 

 voracious, and though all the bad symptoms may be pre- 

 sent, still the animal keeps up an appearance of plump- 

 ness. This, however, is hollow and deceitful ; and the 

 rapid loss of flesh which immediately succeeds, shows 

 with what insidious certainty the malady has been pro- 

 gressing. Owing to the falling off in flesh and in fat, the 

 neck appears to have acquired additional length, and the 

 eyes to have sunk within the head. Sooner or later, the 

 skin beneath the neck becomes distended with serous 

 fluid, and from this the disease has acquired the name of 

 Poke. The word, however, is far from applicable, as it 

 might, with equal propriety, stand for any other disease 

 attended with dropsical accumulations. 



TREATMENT. Common salt is the very best medicine 

 that can be used. Let the animal have constant access 

 to this. 



But something more should be done. Evacuate the 



bowels by an epsom salt purge, and give a table-spoon 



