DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 521> 



Strike its belly with the hind legs, bends its knees, as if a pre- 

 liminary to the process of lying down, but apparently dreads the 

 pain involved in so doing, looks round at the sides, falls down 

 suddenly, rolls on its back, and then suddenly starts and 

 scrambles up again. The extremities, horns, and muzzle are 

 cold, the pulse is quick and small, the bowels are obstinately 

 constipated, and the disease is so debilitating that the afflicted 

 animal becomes greatly emaciated. The animal is quite regard- 

 less of all surrounding things, the pupil is widely dilated, and 

 delirium may supervene. 



' Should the animal die, and the intestines be examined after 

 death, intense inflammation of the peritoneal coat of both large 

 and small intestines maybe seen. This inflammation may some- 

 times extend from the caecum to the abomasum, sometimes 

 also to the other three stomachs, and the liver may also be 

 affected. The disease is occasioned by too much food or by 

 stimulating food, by the administration of purgatives, and 

 especially by the combined influence of cold and wet. Some- 

 times, by way of treatment, bleeding may be found useful, and 

 Epsom salts may be administered and followed up with sulphur. 

 The food may consist of mashes, or gruel. If the constipation 

 is followed by diarrhoea, then, and not otherwise, may tonics be 

 administered. 



Acute Dropsy or Redwater in Sheep. 

 It is very difiBcult indeed to say what is the cause, or rather 

 what are the causes — for no doubt there are several — which 

 determine the onset of this suddenly fatal disease. Some prac- 

 titioners think that it is brought on by a deficiency of iron in 

 the system ; and, whether this be true or not, it certainly does 

 appear to be an indisputable fact that the administration of iron 

 in suitable doses and in a proper manner does work an immense 

 amount of good. The name ** redwater," though very commonly 

 used, is not really a very suitable one, inasmuch as it is liable 

 to lead to confusion, being also applied to a disorder of sheep in 

 which those animals discharge red-coloured urine. Redwater 

 is very commonly met with among lambs soon after they are 

 weaned, especially if they are allowed to lie about on a moist 

 and chilly soil. If the malady is detected early enough, it will 

 generally be found best to send the animal to the butcher. 



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