DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. • 531 



sulphate of iron being very valuable in doses of about fifteen 

 grains. In Ireland, redwater is said to prevail widely. 



Moreover, Mr. Gowing has recorded that the disease broke 

 out on a farm in Middlesex in sheep kept on good and rich 

 grass land. This occurred in the year 1849, and during that same 

 year there were, and since then there have been, many outbreaks. 

 Occasionally the mortality is very great. On visiting the sheep 

 early one morning in April, two lambs were seen to be unwell, 

 to stagger in their gait, to separate themselves from the others, 

 to be dull, and to hang their heads low. Their mouths were 

 closed so firmly that the jaws could scarcely be opened, and a 

 frothy saliva covered their lips. A small quantity of castor oil 

 mixed with some warm milk was given to each lamb, and, as 

 they appeared to be a little better a few hours afterwards, they 

 were again put with the ewes. The bowels having been 

 opened, the lambs gradually recovered ; but they remained very 

 weak for several days. 



In the beginning of May, an ewe exhibited symptoms similar 

 to those wliich the lambs had previously shown ; she was also 

 considerably hoven, and also breathed with great difficulty. A 

 full dose of castor oil was at once administered. In the early 

 afternoon the oil was repeated, and later in the afternoon a 

 saline aperient was given, but the ewe died while taking it. 

 When the body was opened, the paunch burst from the pressure 

 of the great mass of food contained in it. A few days after- 

 wards a lamb, apparently well at noon, was found dead about 

 4 P.M., and on the third day afterwards another also was found 

 dead. Two days after this a third lamb was taken ill. To this 

 a dose of castor oil was given, and it was bled in the eye-and- 

 ear-veins. The blood was very dark, and flowed slowly. The 

 lamb's breathing was laboured, and at intervals ceased for 

 several seconds. It died on the following morning. Examina- 

 tion after death showed that the liver was larger than is natural 

 and darker than usual, the lungs slightly congested, and in each 

 pleural sac there was a small quantity of limpid fluid. The 

 pericardial sac likewise contained about two ounces of fibrin and 

 serum. The fibrin was in a state of semi-coagulation. The 

 external surface of the heart, especially on the left side, was 

 studded with dark spots. 



The sheep were then turned on to a common where the 



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