THE DISEASES OF SHEEP. 189 



some influences than those animals which are usually kept singly, 

 or which when kept in large numbers, naturally break up into 

 small separate herds. The structure of the foot, and the manner 

 of the growth of the crust and sole are such as to subject it to dis- 

 ease in that organ from which other animals are free. In the 

 management of a flock of sheep, it is necessary to bear in mind the 

 peculiarities and habits, so that the watchful care of the shepherd 

 may be given as far as possible to exercise precautions which may 

 prevent disease. Fortunately our climate is so well adapted to 

 these peculiarities and habits, that our flocks suffer from far fewer 

 diseases than those of other less favorable climates, and at present 

 many diseases prevalent in other countries are unknown to us ex- 

 cept by report. Precautions to be effective must be intelligently 

 exercised, and it is only by thoroughly understanding his flock 

 that the shepherd can know what to avoid and what to do. The 

 symptoms which indicate approaching disease should be instantly 

 recognized, or the threatened danger cannot be averted. Then the 

 timely remedy may be employed, which is rarely ineffective, while 

 that which comes later is rarely serviceable or effective. The 

 remedies to be administered must be consistent with the peculiar- 

 ities of the sheep. Possessing but a weak vascular and nervous 

 system, and a small supply of circulating blood, bleeding is rarely 

 called for, and can be employed only with danger of doing harm 

 in place of good. For the same reason tonic and stimulating med- 

 icines are more frequently needed, and may be given in larger 

 doses. Purgatives, especially saline ones, for the same reason, 

 always demand an accompanying: stimulant. 



Purgatives are frequently called for, as the digestive organs 

 so abundantly developed and largely exercised, are readily dis- 

 eased or disordered, and disturbance of the system rarely occurs 

 without sympathetically or otherwise involving those organs. 

 The veterinarian used to study the diseases of the horse, and to 

 apply his reasoning to the peculiarities of that animal, is too apt to 

 lose sight of the vast surface of the stomachs of the sheep, the in- 

 sensibility of much of this surface, and the fact that medicine ad- 

 ministered with the food or in solid form, will most probably fall 

 into the rumen, where it will be ineffective. So too the shepherd, 

 who consults veterinary works, will be misled to a great extent, 

 and be induced to believe the too common idea that it is folly to 

 physic a sheep, and the best treatment is to cut its throat at once. 

 In treating sheep, purgatives are useful to reduce fever, to lower 

 inflammation, and to restore tone to the stomach and liver. They 

 should always be given in a liquid form. Of all the purgatives, 



