ON THE 



DISEASES OF SHEEP 



This has been a sadly neglected branch of veterinary inquiry and 

 practice. The nature and treatment of the diseases of sheep form 

 little or no part of the instruction given in some of our veterinary 

 schools, and seldom come under the cognizance of the surgeon after- 

 wards. The shepherd undertakes the treatment of foot-rot, and scab, 

 and hoove ; and with regard to the other maladies to which this 

 animal is subject, they are either suffered to take their course, or, if a 

 veterinary practitioner is ever employed, it is when the disease is 

 firmly established, or the whole flock infected, and medical aid is 

 fruitless. This is much to be lamented, and very absurd ; for although 

 an individual sheep may not be worth much, yet a numerous flock 

 forms no inconsiderable portion of the farmer's wealtli, and the fre- 

 quent mortality among these animals is a very serious loss to him. 



The internal structure of the sheep so nearly resembles that of the 

 ox, that I will content myself with referring to the anatomy of the ox, 

 as described in the early part of this work. The diseases of both have 

 a very great resemblance in their nature and cause, and progress, and 

 medical treatment. The same drugs are administered to both. There 

 cannot be a better purgative for sheep than Epsom salts : there is no 

 better fever medicine than the digitalis, emetic tartar, and nitre. The 

 principal diflerence is in the quantity to be administered; a sixth or 

 eiohth part of the usual dose for cattle will be sufficient for the sheep. 

 The quantity of blood taken will depend on the size of the animal 

 and the nature of the disease. Four ounces would be a fair average 

 bleeding from a lamb, and a pint from a full-grown sheep. Shepherds 

 are apt to bleed from the eye-vein ; but the blood generally flows 

 slowly, and, after all, the proper quantity will not always be obtained. 

 The best place for bleeding is from the jugular, as in cattle. A liga- 

 ture should be tied round the neck, and then the vein will rise so 

 evidently that it cannot possibly be mistaken. The vein should be 

 opened with the lancet commonly used for the human being: the 

 orifice should be large, and the blood obtained as quickly as possible. 



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