OVERHEATING 311 



making dips at home. But in treating for lice and ticks (scab is 

 rare in the United States, except in a few states) it is cheaper and 

 more satisfying to rely on the manufactured dips. As a rule, they 

 are efficient, and reliable directions for their use are always sent out 

 with them. 



Foot-rot is an old, old ailment with sheep, and directions for its 

 control have been written for centuries. There are two forms: 

 One, non-contagious, caused by too much wet weather ; the other is 

 contagious, and is caused by the microorganism, Bacillus necropho- 

 rous. The contagious form is hard to deal with, as in the worst 

 cases the animal is very lame for a long time. The foot is hot and 

 swollen around the coronary band. In this region soft, greenish 

 spots develop which break and emit, pus having a very putrid odor. 

 A good remedy is a strong copper-sulfate solution applied once or 

 twice daily. In chronic cases a good method of treatment consists 

 of packing copper-sulfate crystals in the pus openings around the 

 coronary band. These crystals attack the dead tissue and destroy 

 the cause of the trouble, the bacteria. 



Sheep having contagious foot-rot should not be allowed to run 

 with the flock. 



Goitre. Sheep sometimes develop goitre. The writer is in- 

 debted to R. J. Stone for the following remedy : 



Iodine ( crystals ) 1 oz. 



Potassium iodide 6 drs. 



Vaseline 4 oz. 



Mix thoroughly. 



Shear off the wool and apply with a swab every other day. 



Overheating. When the temperature gets above 88 degrees F. 

 and the humidity is great, there is danger of one or more members 

 of the flock becoming overheated. An overheated sheep or lamb is 

 stiff. It trembles while on its feet and is unable to walk far without 

 lying down. The first thing to do for it is to carry it to a cool, 

 shady place. It should then be given Epsom salts, dissolved in 

 water (two and one-half ounces for a lamb and four ounces for a 

 sheep) and a teaspoonful of tincture of aconite. 



When an overheated sheep is so badly affected that it can not 

 get up, E. J. Stone gives the following treatment : Strychnine, one- 

 fiftieth grain, three times a day for three days, then one-twenty- 

 fifth grain at night, and one-fiftieth grain in the morning and at 

 noon, and increasing gradually to one-twenty-fifth grain three times 



