424 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



darts as if by a Datural instinct at food offered to it but retains 

 it in the mouth unmasticated, as if it were unaware even of its 

 presence therein, or rather perhaps as if the necessary energy 

 required for eating were not forthcoming. At length the pulse 

 becomes well-nigh imperceptible, the cough weaker and more 

 painful, the flanks are convulsively agitated, the animal staggers 

 if it attempts to walk onwards, the eyes become clouded, the 

 look of the animal's face is expressive of great distress, the 

 cough ceases, unconsciousness comes on, and at length death 

 closes the scene. 



If an examination be then made, the lungs are seen to be 

 black and engorged with blood, of much larger size than would 

 be the case in a healthy animal, and more or less actually 

 decomposed. Very frequently, also, all the viscera may be 

 seen to be in greater or less degree congested, and the liver also 

 is enlarged and softened. If the sheep are seen in the very 

 earliest stage, they should be bled and purged ; but such 

 measures would be most detrimental after exhaustion has super- 

 vened. In this case, spirit of nitrous ether and brandy in 

 suitable doses are indicated. 



Tuberculosis. 



So little is generally heard of this disease as afflicting sheep 

 that our readers may be at first sight disposed to ask — " Why/ 

 who ever heard of a sheep suffering from consumption ? " Yet, 

 all the same, this animal is very liable to be contaminated with 

 the germs of tuberculosis ; and the only reason why the disease, 

 in so far as sheep are concerned, does not attract greater 

 attention than it does, is because these animals are usually 

 consigned to the shambles at such an early age that the disease 

 has not had time to establish itself in a marked degree. A brief 

 consideration of this disease will complete our short review of 

 the disorders of the respiratory mechanism in sheep. 



As our readers know, tuberculosis is scientifically classed 

 under the heading of germ diseases, since it is due to the 

 presence of the tubercle-bacilli in the blood, tissues, and organs; 

 but we need not enter into the discussion of the life-history of 

 these particular vegetal germs in this connection. The 

 symptoms are somewhat as follows : — A sheep, although feeding 

 well, may be observed to cough, and, generally speaking, there is 



