DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 679 



this substance. Moreover, there are some who think that ergot 

 is not so greatly fraught with danger in the case of the ewe_, as it 

 seems to them to be in regard to the cow. An important point 

 in this connection is that, as a matter of fact, ergot is only 

 present on the grasses between the beginning of the month ot 

 August and the progress of the month of December, and during 

 this period the greater number of the ewes have only been for a 

 short time impregnated. Now it is known that ergot apparently 

 has much greater power of bringing on abortion in proportion 

 as the time is advanced towards delivery. Again, in the general 

 way, ergot is only found in matured grass, and consequently for 

 the most part sheep do not consume it, since they more 

 especially feed upon the fresh and young herbage. 



Another factor in the causation of abortion may be referred 

 to. During long frosts, when there is no snow upon the 

 ground, the ewes, being near their time, necessarily live in 

 great measure on dry food, and at such times they drink freely. 

 Unfortunately, it is much too frequently the case that the only 

 source of water is a foul pond frozen over, but with a small hole 

 broken through the ice for the purpose of allowing the sheep to 

 drink. More than this, the water itself is often most unwhole- 

 some in consequence of the collection of the excrement of 

 animals in it, and perhaps also a^a result of the pond having 

 been used for the reception of the bodies of animals which have 

 died on the farm. We need scarcely dilate upon the utter and 

 extreme folly of such actions as this ; and, indeed, no words can 

 adequately express the reckless madness of thus poisoning the 

 water supply. 



Furthermore, the sheep, as we all know, is a very timid 

 animal, and its nervous system is exceedingly liable to be upset 

 by terror and fright. Hence it is of great importance that dogs 

 should only be used with the utmost care. Indeed, except in 

 such cases as the Downs of England or on the hills of Scotland, 

 where they may be almost indispensable, it is really better not 

 to use dogs at all in connection with in-lamb ewes. It is also 

 to be remembered that foxhounds may work a great deal of 

 damage, and that a pack of harriers is even still more dangerous 

 in this respect. Consequently, if a farmer has any reasons to 

 suppose that foxhounds or harriers may be expected, he should 

 always take the precautionary measure of removing all of hia 



