504 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



of appetite. When properly treated but a few of the sheep go blind 

 and recovery occurs in a short time. 



Treatment. It is best to separate the sick from the healthy 

 sheep. The affected sheep should be given cool, dark quarters and 

 the eyes cleaned daily by bathing them with warm water. Follow- 

 ing this, calomel and boric acid of equal parts by weight should be 

 blown directly into the eye with a powder blower. If a large number 

 in the flock are affected and suitable quarters cannot be provided, 

 treatment with the powder alone is followed by good results. 



ECZEMA. 



Eczema, of non-parasitic origin, is not a common disease among 

 sheep, due to the skin being so well protected by the wool and the 

 abundant secretions of the skin. What is commonly known as rain 

 rot may be seen in sheep in poor condition and exposed to heavy cold 

 rains. The rain softens the outer layer of the skin, irritates it and 

 allows the microbes to enter. 



Symptoms. The skin is red and inflamed, and vesicles and 

 pimples form. The skin may become covered by scabs and scruf, 

 and the wool shed in places. When the weather improves and the 

 animals are kept under more favorable conditions, recovery takes 

 place spontaneously. 



RHEUMATISM. 



Causes. Rheumatism is more common during the late autumn 

 or early spring than at any other season of the year. Sudden 

 changes in temperature, cold, wet weather, untimely shearing, expo- 

 sure, draughts, etc., seem to favor the development of the disease. 

 Different theories in regard to its cause are advanced by different 

 authors. The muscles, tendons or joints may be affected. 



Symptoms. Generally the muscles of the back and loins are 

 affected. It may, however, affect the neck or hind quarters. The 

 gait is stiff and the limbs are carried straight and rigid. When the 

 joints are affected, they become swollen, hot and painful and the dis- 

 ease may shift from one to another. In acute cases the body tem- 

 perature is higher than normal, the respirations quickened and the 

 appetite lost or impaired. When the disease takes on the acute form 

 the animal becomes emaciated and in a short time dies. 



Treatment. The preventive measures consist in keeping the 

 sheep in comfortable, dry quarters, free from draughts. When the 

 rheumatism is localized, local treatment in the form of liniments or 

 blisters can be used. Internally the following can be given : salicy- 

 late of soda (one ounce), fluid extract of gentian (one half ounce), 

 and enough water to make eight ounces ; mix and give half an ounce 

 in a drench two or three times a day. 



INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



ARTHRITIS OF LAMBS (INFLAMMATION OF THE JOINTS). 



Causes. This disease is due to septic substances entering the 

 body by way of the umbilical cord. Filthy quarters and a large um- 

 bilical cord that does not dry as soon as ordinary are the predisposing 

 causes. 



