DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 425 



little or no difficulty in getting the animal into fair condition for 

 slaughter. After death, the meat looks well ; but if the lungs 

 are examined they are found to be mottled upon the surface, 

 and if we cut into them, we may find many concretions of minute 

 size which in reality are tubercles. The fact is, however, 

 that in the general way, in regard to sheep, tuberculosis is not a 

 disease of very much moment ; for, these animals being sent to 

 market sometimes when only eighteen months old, and seldom 

 at a later age than that of thirty months, the malady has not 

 time to work very great mischief in them. If, however, sheep 

 afflicted with this disease were kept alive, so that the disease 

 could mature itself, they would suffer grievously. The afflicted 

 ram or ewe at three or four years of age continues to cough, 

 has pallid lips, loses flesh, and suffers from diarrhoea, which 

 returns again and again, until at last it wears the animal out. 

 This disease is especially prevalent among sheep which are kept 

 on low and moist pastures. 



If the disease is recognised, it is best to fatten the sheep, and 

 fiend it straightway to the butcher. If this course is not 

 taken, the affected sheep should be placed on a dry and 

 wholesome pasture, and salt should be put within its reach. 

 Foreign sheep imported into England from a torrid climate 

 seldom live two years, but die of tubercular affection of the lungs. 



We do not propose to devote any more attention to the 

 diseases of the respiratory system in sheep. It only seems 

 necessary to add that the chief concern of the practical farmer 

 in this connection is to take due care of his sheep. If this 

 applies at all times, how much more so is it of the greatest 

 importance in inclement weather, and during the season of 

 lambing ! It is very gratifying indeed to observe that the 

 custom of extemporising little sheds by means of straw-stuffed 

 hurdles or sheep-trays is much more general than it used to be, 

 and there is no doubt that a little of this kind of help is of 

 the greatest value to the ewes at this important period of their 

 lives. We should like to see still more advance in this direction, 

 and though we do not say that ' the good shepherd should in 

 these days actually give his life for his sheep,' we do maintain 

 that many of the kindly shepherds of England do help that 

 patient creature very much indeed, and that the tender care 

 and solicitude for their charges which they oftentimes display — 



