170 



DISEASES OF SHEEP. 



covery, and even if made known, our treatment, though 

 not differing much from that of braxy, could hardly be 

 successful. 



(128.) Treatment of Braxy. Recovery is in many 

 instances almost hopeless, owing to the length of time 

 which in general elapses between the onset of the disease 

 and the shepherd's discovery of the. animal. Never- 

 theless, the best treatment ought in every instance to 

 have a proper trial, as life may often be saved when 

 such a result is least expected. Many plans have been 

 resorted to, but none are found to suit so well as that 

 of bleeding and purging. The first thing to be attempt- 

 ed is the procuring of a copious flow of blood, but, as 

 before mentioned, this is a difficult matter, owing to 

 the stagnant state of the circulation at the surface of the 

 body. Its abstraction may, however, be rendered easy, 

 by placing the sheep in a tub of warm water, or, where 

 this cannot be procured, by rolling a blanket wrung out 

 of hot water round the body of the animal. The tub 

 of water should always be preferred, and the moment 

 the sheep is placed in it, the tail should be nicked, and 

 one or both jugular veins opened. 



Retain the sheep in the bath for half an hour, add- 

 ing hot water from time to time, so as to sustain the 

 original temperature. This of itself will alleviate tbe 

 sufferings of the animal. 



When a copious flow of blood has been obtained, 

 remove the sheep from the tub, and administer twa 

 ounces of Glauber's or Epsom salt, dissolved in warm 

 water, substituting a handful of common salt when these 

 cathartics cannot be procured. It is needless to give 

 a purgative without bleeding, as, till this is done, it wilJ 



