DISEASES OP THE OX AND SHEEP. 243 



animal, lively and apparently in perfect health, suddenly falls 

 down while grazing, and may perish in convulsions in the very 

 short space of a few minutes. The affected animal is restless, 

 lies down and rises again frequently, holds the head low, stands 

 apart from the rest of the flock with arched back, picks up a 

 little grass, staggers, stumbles forwards or backwards. The 

 mouth is hot and red, the pulse is full, strong, and frequent, the 

 breathing panting and laboured, and there is a burning heat all 

 over the body. If any feces are voided, they are hard, dry, and 

 scanty, and the urine also is scanty and of a dark colour. The 

 eyes, which at first were bloodshot, afterwards become languid 

 and watery, and the animal drops with a haggard look and ster- 

 torous breathing. The sheep may perhaps fall into a ditch, 

 pond, or drain, and be drowned, or may roll over on its back, 

 and, gasping for air with extended head, may soon die. Even 

 before death, swellings may be observed. Gas is set free in the 

 tissues beneath the skin, whereby the latter is elevated along the 

 back and the sides, which, if pressed, give rise to a crackling 

 sensation. Abdominal swelling is often observed, particularly 

 on the left side, owing to the distension of the paunch. Death 

 is, as a rule, very sudden, and generally occurs about a few 

 hours after the first signs of the disease are observed. Decom- 

 position begins very soon after death, and possibly even before 

 the fatal ending. 



If death is not so early, the suffering animal may lie down, 

 and be unable to rise again. The breathing is hurried and 

 difficult, the eyes are prominent, the visible mucous membranes 

 are deeply reddened, and discharges of blood issue forth from 

 both mouth and nostrils. After a few hours convulsions may 

 come on, shortly before death. The sheep may, however, con- 

 tinue living, looking uneasy and dull, refusing to eat, carrying 

 the head low and the back arched upwards, frequently lying 

 down and rising again, and refraining from micturition. If the 

 flock moves on, the suffering animal falls behind, and is left in 

 the background by its companions, and it may stagger about 

 slowly. The hair on the face and the wool on the body are dry. 

 If bleeding is resorted to, the blood will be seen to be thick and 

 black, and to flow slowly. The animal looks breathless and 

 excited, the lining membrane of the nostrils and that of the con- 

 junctiva is deep red, while that of the mouth, and especially that 



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