674 THK DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



would dictate in such cases are not difficult to learn nor to carry 

 out. On the contrary, they are most easy and simple. 



A case of septicseraia (blood-poisoning) breaks out among a 

 number of lambing ewes. The shepherd, not knowing the danger, 

 carries this dread disease from ewe to ewe by the medium of the 

 contact of his hands or clothes. If, however, the ewe which was 

 first attacked liad been summarily isolated, and the shepherd had 

 taken the greatest care to be thoroughly cleanly in regard to his 

 clothes, and to wash his hands well in some good disinfecting 

 preparation after tending any ewe which shows the slightest 

 signs of disease, such as solution of permanganate of potassium, 

 or a solution of carbolic acid of the proper strength (about 1 in 

 50), or even with such a readily procurable thing as carbolic acid 

 soap, the danger would have been lessened, and the cases of 

 disease far less numerous. If possible, this should be done after 

 each case of any difficulty, and if any ewe shows signs of going 

 wrong after lambing, that ewe should be kept from all possibility 

 of contact with others. The shepherd cannot be too careful to 

 maintain the most thorough cleanliness. 



Many fatal cases are due to the fact that the ewes fall victims 

 one after another to the above-mentioned dread malady known 

 as ** parturient septicaemia," which we may speak of in more 

 popular phraseology as " blood-poisoning occurring in the stage 

 which succeeds the delivery of the offspring." Now, how does 

 this blood-poisoning arise ? This question cannot be decided 

 beyond all doubt; but it is probable that feeding beyond the 

 requirements of healthy nutrition may be regarded as a predis- 

 posing cause. This at least is one view. It is a matter for no 

 wonder that among a large flock of lambing ewes a case or two 

 of this disease may occur. Farmers should therefore be pre- 

 pared to find it breaking out occasionally, and they should be 

 careful to instruct their shepherds how to act so as to prevent the 

 spreading of the disease, which, if not properly checked, may 

 communicate itself from ewe to ewe, as it were, with the rapidity 

 of wildfire. The mother must possess the capability of making 

 a due re-adjustment of vital processes, and also a most impor- 

 tant re-arrangement of internal organs, and in any case these vital 

 changes leave an animal for the time being weak, and for some 

 time afterwards somewhat debilitated, and, consequently, liable 

 to the attacks of disease. 



