TREATMENT OF DYSENTERY. 1 • * 



entirely on the state of the atmosphere and the nature 

 of the locality. When dysentery occurs the weather 

 is usually sultry, the ground upon which the flock has 

 been going, foul, and the management of the sheep so 

 improper, as to be sufficient of itself to produce the 

 disease very generally. There is in fact only one proof 

 of a disease being infectious, viz., its immediate occur- 

 rence on the introduction of an affected animal among 

 such as are in good health, on sound food, and in easy 

 circumstances. This proof, however, in regard to dy- 

 sentery has never been established, and no medical 

 person will now affirm that it is contagious. Some 

 think that it travels from flock to flock in the direction 

 of the wind, but its appearing simultaneously in many 

 folds ought rather to be charged to the fact of the pre- 

 disposing causes being nearly similar in all. 



(137.) Treatment of Dysentery. Bleed freely if the 

 disease has continued only for a few days, but mode- 

 rately if a longer time has unfortunately elapsed. Stov« 

 in^> by which is meant shutting the animal in a wash- 

 house, and allowing the apartment to become filled with 

 steam, though urged by some writers, cannot here be 

 recommended. The intended object is the promotion 

 of perspiration, by exciting the action of the skin, but 

 this may be brought about by means much more con- 

 ducive to the safety of the animal. After the bleeding 

 immerse the sheep in a tub of hot water, and retain it 

 there for twenty minutes ; then administer an ounce of 

 Castor oil, with thirty drops of Laudanum, and cover 

 the sheep up in a snug corner. After the oil has 

 operated, (hin well-boiled flour-porridge, given at in- 

 tervals, in small qu?«^ities, will help to defend the 



