DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP AND PIGS 455 



its head over to eat. Give all the cold water it wants to drink 

 in small quantities at a time ; also take good care of it, not 

 allowing- it to get wet or cold, and it will soon get all right. 

 2. Choking. 



Causes. — This is not nearly so common in sheep as it is 

 in cattle, but sometimes it occurs when they are fed on sliced 

 roots. 



Symptoms. — The choking sheep stops eating at once, 

 froths at the mouth, coughs and continues to work the tongue 

 about in the mouth. These symptoms are frequently attended 

 with bloating and blood-shot eyes. 



Treatment. — Pour down a little raw linseed oil as a 

 drench. In some cases this will start whatever is lodged in 

 the throat and causing the trouble. Feel along the bottom of 

 the neck, and if you can find the obstruction try to work it 

 up or down with your hands, but be sure you do not mistake 

 the larynx or Adam's apple for the lump. If this treatment 

 fails, get a probang that is used for choking in cattle and pass 

 it down in the same way as is explained for choking in cattle, 

 being very careful in passing it down, as the sheep is a more 

 tender animal than the cow. Oil the probang well before 

 passing it down. 



3. Bloating (Tympanitis). 



This disease affects the first part of the stomach — the 

 paunch. 



Causes. — A change of food, a feed of wet clover or grain, 

 chilling the stomach .with a large drink of cold water or 

 eating frozen roots or grass may account for it. 



Symptoms. — There is considerable uneasiness, a frequent 

 change of position — up and then down. The breathing is 

 heavy, accompanied by considerable moaning. The left side 

 is bloated and tapping on this side makes a hollow, drumlike 

 sound, showing that there is gas present. 



When tapping a sheep to ascertain the presence of gas, 

 be sure to separate the wool and tap the points of the fingers 

 on the skin. 



Treatment. — The treatment must be prompt Give 



Epsom Salts % pound. 



Sweet Spirits of Nitre y 2 ounce or 2 dessertspoonfuls. 



Bicarbonate of Soda 1 teaspoonful. 



Ginger 1 teaspoonful. 



