COSTIVENESS. STAGGERS. 201 



COSTIVE NESS. 



When no evacuation appears to be elfected, but the animal is con- 

 tinually straining', two circumstances must be carefully examined 

 into, — first, whether tiiere is the obstruction of which I have just 

 spoken, utterly preventing the discharge of the dung, and a speedy 

 remedy being at hand, namely, the removal of the clotted wool ; or 

 whether, after the straining, some drops of liquid fsoces may not be 

 perceived : this, although often mistaken for costiveness, clearly in- 

 dicates a very ditferent state of the bowels ; they are actually relaxed, 

 — too much so, and the straining results from irritation about the 

 anus. 



Actual costiveness, however, is not an unfrequent complaint, and 

 must be speedily attacked; for it is either the accompaniment of 

 fever, or it will very speedily lead on to fever. The existence of fever 

 should be carefully inquired into : heaving of the flanks, restlessness, 

 and heat of the mouth, will be sufficient indications of it. Bleeding 

 in proportion to the degree of fever, and the age and strength of the 

 lamb, should then be°had recourse to. Next, the bowels must be 

 opened ; one-fourth of the Purging Drink (No. 2, p. 200) will beJ:he 

 best thing that can be given, and it should be repeated every sixth 

 hour until the desired effect is produced. The lamb should be turned 

 into greener and more succulent pasture, and especially where there 

 is any fresh flush of grass; and if, after awhile, he should altogether 

 refuse to eat, he may be drenched with gruel, in which a little Epsom 

 salts should always be dissolved. While this afl'ords nutriment, it 

 will cool the aniaial, and open the bowels. 



STAGGERS. 



Many lambs are lost from this disease, and the farmer most cer- 

 tainly has here no one to blame but himself. It attacks the most 

 thriving lambs, and especially when they are about three or four 

 months old ; and it arises from the farmer making a great deal more 

 haste than usual in fattening them for the market. It resembles the 

 blond in cattle, and is usually produced by the same causes. 



The lamb will appear to be in perfect health. All at once he will 

 stand still, heaving violently at the flanks, and with the head pro- 

 truded ; or he will wander about with great uncertainty in his walk 

 and manner: he will then all at once fi^ill down and lie struggling 

 upon his back until he is helped up, or dies. Sometimes he is very 

 much convulsed. 



Bleeding must be resorted to immediately, and afterwards the 

 bowels well opened by means of the Purging Drink. To this some 

 cooling febrifuge medicine should succeed. 



RECIPE {So. A). 

 Cooling Fever Drink.— Take powdered disitalis, one scruple; emetic tartar, ten 

 grains; nitre, two dracliins. Mix with thick gruel, and let it be given twice every 

 day. 



