486 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



bicarbonate of soda (three ounces) ; mix and give one teaspoon- 

 ful every three or four hours. Artificial Carlsbad salts (equal parts 

 of sulphate of soda, bicarbonate of soda, and chloride of soda) can 

 be given. The addition of powdered gentian or nux vomica to 

 the salts will greatly increase their value as a tonic. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER 



PAEENCHYMATITIS J HEPATITIS ; ACUTE YELLOW ATROPHY OF THE 



LIVER. 



Causes. This disease is caused by excessive quantities of food, 

 too little exercise, musty, decomposed, irritating fodders, excessive 

 heat, injuries to the liver, and damp swampy pastures. It is fre- 

 quently seen in contagious diseases and parasitic affections of the 

 liver. This condition is always present in lupinosis. 



Symptoms. At first the symptoms may be obscure. Nothing 

 characteristic is noted. The body temperature is elevated;, the 

 pulse is slow, or if the attack is severe, quickened, the appetite is 

 lost or irregular, and the sheep acts dull and stupid. Jaundice 

 may be present. The more characteristic symptoms are as follows: 

 tenderness when pressure is applied over the region of the liver, 

 (right side just back of the last rib) ; constipation followed by 

 slightly colored, fetid diarrhea; colicky pains and a tendency to 

 stagger. If the disease continues for some time the animal be- 

 comes weak and emaciated. Complications may occur, the most 

 common being peritonitis. The prognosis is not favorable in the 

 chronic cases. 



Treatment. Preventive measures must be resorted to. The 

 treatment consists in subjecting the sheep to a spare diet, apply- 

 ing a blister to the right side, giving a purgative of Epsom salts 

 or calomel and repeating it if necessary. Artificial Carlsbad salts 

 (equal parts of sulphate of soda, bicarbonate of soda, and chloride 

 of soda) in teaspoonful doses should be given in the feed two or 

 three times a day. When the acute symptoms have abated the fol- 

 lowing bitter tonic can be given; powdered gentian (one ounce) 

 potassium chlorate (one ounce) bicarbonate of soda (two ounces) ; 

 mix and give one teaspoonful in the feed twice a day. 



JAUNDICE. 



This is not a disease in itself but symptom of disease, and is 

 called jaundice or yellows, because of the yellow color of the mu- 

 cous membranes, skin and different connective tissues of the body. 

 Jaundice is nearly always present in sheep affected with the liver 

 fluke, is quite common in sheep affected with the twisted stomach 

 worm and is associated with other parasitic diseases. Many cases 

 are seen, too, at slaughter houses the cause of which has not been 

 determined. 



Causes. Any condition that may impede the flow of bile to- 

 ward the intestines may cause jaundice. Overfeeding, lack of ex- 

 ercise, gall-stones and concretions in the gall duct are common 

 causes. When sheep are allowed to pasture on rich grass lands, 

 the liver sometimes becomes affected and jaundice is seen as a 

 symptom of this condition. The disease has been known to occur 



