CHAPTER XXXIII. 



DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



The nervous system of the sheep is not as highly developed as 

 those animals in more close association with man. The dog first, 

 and the horse next. Timidity is not a sign of a developed nervous 

 system Most of the brain and spinal cord diseases are parasitic 

 in origin, and those that are not traceable to such causes are still 

 obscure. 



GID, STURDY, TTJRNSICK. 



This commonest of brain troubles is due to the presence of the 

 bladder caused by the embryo tapeworm which has been taken 

 into the stomach, pierced the wall, and gained access to the blood, 

 using its instinct and its hooks to anchor in the brain and set up the 

 formation of a bladder upon the inner aspect of which the heads 

 or first portions of future tapeworms form. 



Symptoms. Giddiness, carrying the head to one side and falling 

 over, or spinning round and falling over. After a short time the 

 giddy sheep gets up again, looking a bit dazed, but soon appears 

 to be in its usual health. 



Treatment. Puncturing the bladder if it can be located. It is 

 always more or less risky, but is often done with success. A soft, 

 place can sometimes be felt in the skull, and into this a fine awl 

 driven, or a hypodermic needle of stout proportions, which will 

 also draw off a large part of the fluid. Another plan, that adopted 

 by Hogg, and called by him " wiring," is to push up the nostrils 

 a long wire or knitting-needle into the bladder, which he had a great 

 knack of finding. "If," says Hogg, " the brain does not inflame, 

 the sheep will be better." Piercing from this aspect (the nasal 

 chamber) allows of drainage, and is preferable on that account. 

 Any puncture of the bladder has a good effect, but the reader 

 will see how much greater the result of aspirating, by the springe 

 as above stated. As to whether one will undertake this operation 

 or not will depend upon whether a breeding ewe is affected or 

 a nearly fat hogg or sheep destined for the butcher. Aperients 

 and bleeding, any practice which lowers brain pressure acts 

 favourably, and if the period of maximum enlargement can be 



