206 DISEASES OP SHEEP. 



weather is the fruitful source of the majority of the diseases, and of 

 the most fatal ones, to which these animals are subject. 



This malady is sometimes accompanied by palsy. Every continued 

 pressure on the brain is apt to produce loss of power over some of the 

 limbs; but in this case the palsy is variable: it shifts from limb to 

 limb, and from side to side, and, unlike simple palsy, is generally 

 attended by partial blindness, and by the g-reatest degree of stupidity. 



I repeat it again, that no medicine can be of the least avail in de- 

 stroying the hlub^ as it is called in some parts of the country : but if 

 either of the operations is tried, one of the purging drinks may be 

 useful in abating inflammation ; and whether the skull is punctured 

 or trephined, a pitch plaster over the wound will preserve the sheep 

 from being tortured by the flies. 



SECTION VI. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. 



This, although a frequent disease of the sheep, and of the same 

 part, and almost as fatal as that which has been just described, ig 

 accompanied by such different symptoms, that it is scarcely possible 

 to confound them. Inflammation of the brain generally attacks the 

 healthiest sheep, and of all ages, and more in hot weather than in the 

 early part of spring. There is no character of stupidity about this 

 affection, no disinclination to move, no moving round and round 

 without any determinate object: but the eyes are protruding, blood- 

 shot, and bright; and there is an eager and ferocious, not a depressed 

 and anxious countenance. The animal is in constant motion : he 

 gallops about attacking his fellows, attacking the shepherd, and 

 sometimes quarrelling with a post or tree; he is labouring under wild 

 delirium, and this continues until he is absolutely exhausted. He 

 then stands still, or lies down for a while panting dreadfully, when 

 he starts afresh, as delirious and as ungovernable as before. 



The first and the grand remedy is bleeding; and that from the 

 jugular, and copiously, and to be obtained as quickly as possible. 

 The guide as to the quantity will be the dropping of the animal. To 

 bleeding, physicking will of course succeed, and the sheep should be 

 lemoved into a less luxuriant pasture. This also is one of the dis- 

 eases that should be altackecl.i^at its very commencement. Violent 

 inflammation of the brain and its membranes will very soon be fol- 

 lowed by serious disorganization; and if water once begins to be 

 formed under the membranes, or etfused in the ventricles, the case is 

 hopeless. Here also the attention of the farmer should be directed to 

 preventives. One case of goggles may be accidental ; but if two or 

 three are seized with inflammation of the brain, the farmer may be 



