DISEASES PECULIAR TO SOUTH AFRICA 1377 



The animal may then stop feeding, become prostrated, and die without 

 any typical sign of its suffering from Heart-water. Many cases show 

 symptoms of brain trouble before death, denoted by a constant movement 

 of the jaw, and of the tongue, as if it was chewing, extending the tongue 

 and withdrawing it, and, in some cases, licking the ground. If tied to 

 a post, it will turn round many times and suddenly fall. Fits set in, the 

 neck being extended backwards, and the legs in regular motion. These 

 symptoms pass away but only to return again, indicating the approach 

 of death. Some animals bleed a great deal before death, while others 

 pass quietly away. The symptoms of the digestive organs also 

 vary greatly. Sometimes there is foam at the mouth and the throat 

 may be slightly swollen, rumination (chewing the cud), may stop 

 even before feeding, the bowels are usually normal, but sometimes costive, 

 and again, diarrhoea may be present. Thus it will be seen that the 

 symptoms vary considerably in different cases, but the brain signs are 

 very indicative, and are caused by the diseased condition of the brain. 



Posi-Mortenii The principal lesion in Heart-water in sheep and goats 

 is the increase of liquid in the heart-bag, hence the name Heart-water. 

 This condition is also found in sheep and goats dying from other causes 

 such as bad pasture, internal parasites, etc., but there is this difference, 

 that in these latter cases one always has to do with a poor carcass, whereas 

 in a good-conditioned animal the water in the heart sac, points to Heart- 

 water as a specific disease. The changes occurring in other parts of the 

 body or organs do not call for special mention as, except by the pro- 

 fessional reader, they would be but little understood. 



What To DOi Prevention by cautious methods and by protective 

 inoculation. 



At present no tangible forward movement has been made. Some 

 investigators claim to have discovered a protective method by inoculation, 

 but experiments made by the late Director of Agriculture and his very 

 capable staff found them to fail, and so far, no true protective power is 

 known. In the meantime flock masters will do well to watch their flocks 

 carefully. Dipping is good during the period of infection, using any of 

 the authorized sheep dips, so as to destroy any larva or lymph ticks that 

 may be among the wool or mohair. Shift the kraals from low veldt to 

 hieh veldt. 



