STAGQBRS. 



173 



f 



safe. Two ounces of Castor oil given in a gruel, ot 

 the same quantity of Epsom salts, will do, care being 

 taken that the purging be carried to some length. 



Removal to a rich pasture is the only preventive. 

 That pasture should be preferred which contains a 

 good proportion of bitter plants, for the emaciation 

 appears to be owing in a considerable degree to torpor 

 of the bowels occasioned by long abstinence from these 

 necessaries. 

 (132.) Staggers. The symptoms nearly resemble 

 ose of sturdy, which I have afterwards to describe, 

 d with which indeed I might have classed it, were 

 it not that it appears to be merely the result of a 

 isonous plant being taken into the stomach. It is 

 rely seen hereabouts ; I shall, therefore, quote the 

 account of it presented to the Highland Society by Mr 

 Stevenson : — '* This is a disease seldom or never affect- 

 ing the sheep in this country, those excepted which 

 feed in forests, or amongst planting. The symptoms 

 of it are more violent than those of sturdy, during the 

 ime of their continuance. The animal, after stagger- 

 g for some time, falls on the ground, when a general 

 embling comes on over the limbs ; they are violently 

 nvulsed, and quite insensible to every thing. During 

 the continuance of the paroxysm they throw the body 

 into various positions, and sometimes roll to a consi- 

 derable distance. The fit continues for a quarter, 

 sometimes half an hour, or an hour. When they rise, 

 they seem perfectly bewildered, till they regain the 

 flock, when they continue to feed well, till another 

 paroxysm supervenes. This disease appears in Autumn, 

 and various causes are said to produce it. Improper 



