DISEASES OF SHEEP 511 



tendency toward the formation of pustules. They dry and form 

 crusts of a dark grayish color. The growths extend rapidly and be- 

 come in the course of a few days confluent, forming a large diffused 

 scab, which when removed is found to cover an ulcerative surface. 

 Simultaneously with this the lips become tumefied, swelling to two 

 or three times their normal thickness. The appetite usually remains 

 good, but the animals feed with difficulty, owing to the sensitiveness 

 of the affected parts. In some cases the lesion extends from the lips 

 up over the cheeks, occasionally involving the eyelids or even the eye 

 itself. At times a mucopurulent nasal discharge appears, which ad- 

 heres to the nostrils and together with the swollen condition of the 

 surrounding tissues causes a more or less complete occlusion of the 

 air passages, resulting in labored breathing upon exercise. In some 

 cases the lesions extend into the mouth, producing erosions on the in- 

 side of the lips, on the gums, and on the dental pad of the hard pal- 

 ate. These lesions, which are of a spongy consistence and present a 

 warty appearance, are especially noticed on the lambs. 



Lesions on the legs may coexist with those on the lips. The 

 sheep at this time will show some lameness, especially if the ulcers 

 appear about the coronet, in the fold of the fetlock, or in the vicinity 

 of a joint. The progress and appearance of the ulcers upon the legs 

 are identical with those upon the lips, and they are soon covered by a 

 thick, dry crust which when forcibly removed exposes a granulating 

 surface covered with a tenacious pus. 



2. The venereal form, as the name indicates, attacks the genital 

 organs of both sexes. This form is frequently seen in connection 

 with the lip-and-leg form, but it is also observed in some bands that 

 do not present any other lesions. 



In bucks the external part of the sheath is affected in most in- 

 stances, and more infrequently the ulcerations are confined to the 

 penis. The latter condition may be explained by the fact that a buck 

 is liable during copulation to scratch or abrade the membrane cover- 

 ing the penis with burs, etc., in the wool of the ewe, while the sheath 

 may become infected through the use of contaminated bed grounds. 

 In certain sections the erroneous opinion has been held that this form 

 of the disease is syphillis or clap and has nothing to do with lip-and- 

 leg ulceration because it is rightly considered far worse than the lat- 

 ter. It is probable that this form of the disease, which is also known 

 as ulcerated sheath and big pizzle, results in a larger death rate than 

 all the others, and it was reported that in a number of instances quite 

 a percentage of the band, in some cases the entire band of bucks, 

 were destroyed as soon as the disease was discovered because so many 

 of the bucks were rendered useless for breeding through a portion of 

 the penis having sloughed off. Besides, this appears to be the most 

 difficult form to treat, yet good results from treatment were obtained 

 in many cases. 



In ewes the lesions are located on the skin or mucous membrane 

 of the vulva, on the under side of the tail, and in the perineal region. 

 ID a few cases discharges which collected at the lower angle of the 



