NO. 10, 



THE FARMERS CABINET. 



149 



to scabs — thewool grows loose and the sheep 

 pine and become lean. 



If they are attacked in a season when they 

 can be sheltered, it should be immediately 

 done, as nothing is so sure to effect a cure. If 

 the season will not admit of shearing, they 

 must be washed with soap suds, made very 

 strong, and used warm with a piece of flan- 

 nel or a brush. After this they must be 

 turned loo%e into a clean pasture and driven 

 up again as soon as well dried, and the sore 

 parts of the skin must be well wetted with 

 lime water. The scurfy part of the skin 

 must be regarded; and the doing this three 

 times, at two days distance each, will gene- 

 rally effect a cure. But if it fail, the parts 

 that have been thus washed and cleaned, 

 must be anointed with a mixture of equal 

 parts of tar and grease, and they will soon 

 be perfectly well. No inward medicine are 

 required, for the complaint is only of the 

 skin. 



Red ^Vater. 



This is an inflammation of the skin that 

 often raises it into blisters, in which are con- 

 tained a sharp humor, thin, watery and col- 

 ored with blood. Nothing should be done 

 to strike it in, but the cure must be effected 

 by correcting the bad state of the blood. 

 Sheep afllicted with it should be separated 

 from the flock, otherwise it will be very apt to 

 spread through the whole. They should also 

 be put into a pasture where the grass is sweet 

 and where they can have access to good 

 water. 



Mix half an ounce of sulphurwith an ounce 

 of honey; work, it well together, and then 

 divide it into two. Dissolve one of those in 

 half a pint of juice of nettles, and give it 

 every day for a fortnight. Slit the blisters 

 when they are full of this watery humor, and 

 having let the matter out, wet the place with 

 juice of wormwood. After four days of this 

 course, bleed them; and then continue the 

 same. 



Foot Worms. 



Sheep are liable to breed worms between 

 their feet; principally, however, when they 

 are kept in wet pastures. It is very painful 

 to them, and will make them pine away. It 

 is perceived by their frequent holding up one 

 foot; and by setting it tenderly down. 



Let the foot be washed clean, particularly 

 between the toes, and there will be found a 

 little lump like a tuft of hair. This is the 

 head of the worm. — It is to be taken out 

 with care, for it is of a tender substance, and 

 if it be broke in the foot, it will occasion in- 

 flammation. The best method is to open the 

 flesh on each side of it, and then, by means 

 of a pair of knippers, to take it out. Dress 



the wound with tar and grease melted toge- 

 ther in equal quantities, and turn tlie sheep 

 loose. It is better to put it into a fresh pas- 

 ture; for if the same disorder returns, it is 

 generally worse. 



Wild Fire. 



This is a violent inflammation, not unlike 

 the Saint Anthony's fire, ujjon the skin indif- 

 ferent places; and generally affects the whole 

 flock. Our forefathers used to bury the 

 sheep alive with its feet upwards at the door 

 of the fold, superstitiously believing that it 

 acted as a spell to drive away the disease. 

 The following, however, is a more modern 

 and rational method of cure. 



Separate such as are affected with the dis- 

 ease from the flock, bleed, and prepare the 

 following external remedy. Bruise the 

 leaves of wild chervill, and add to them as 

 much lime water as will make the whole very 

 soft. When it is beat up together, add as 

 much powder of fenugveck seed as will re- 

 duce it to pap; then put itinto a pan, and set 

 it in a cool place. Rub the inflamed part 

 carefully with this every eveninff, and make 

 as much lie on as can be kept there; it will 

 take effect during the time of rest, and is to 

 be repeated as long as there is occasion. 



Disorders of the Eyes. 



Sheep are often affected with colds falling 

 upon their eyes, and almost blinding them; 

 and, at other times, the same accident even 

 without any visible cause. The remedy in 

 either case is the same. Press out the juice 

 of great celendine, and drop a quantity of 

 it into the eyes night and morning. 



]>ropsy. 



Sheep are often swelled with water in 

 their bellies ; and this, if not regarded in 

 time, is certain death. There are two ways 

 in which it is lodged; the one is between the 

 outward flesh and the rim — the other within 

 the rim. In the first case the cure is easy; 

 in the other, nothing can be done. 



The method in the first case, is by a course 

 kind of tapping. An opening is to be made 

 in the flesh, and a quill thrust in. This wil 

 give the water a free passage out, and the 

 wound heals of itself. — But when the sheep 

 is emaciated, nature will not have strength 

 to heal it; and the sheep must be examined 

 daily, and the wound dressed with tar and 

 grease. It must also be put into a fresh, dry 

 and wholesome pasture, and then disposed 

 of as soon as recruited; for this is a disorder 

 that never fails to return upon any misman- 

 agement in keeping. 



The Rot. 



This is the most destructive disease to 

 which sheep are subject. Like the murrain 



