SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 505 



sorted to no local or other treatment designed specifically to reach the local 

 inflammation. 



The next step was to fix on the constitutional treatment. The liver was 

 evidently in a toi-pid state. There was a functional derangement in the 

 mesenteric and probably other glands, and awant of activity in the general 

 secretory system. What medicine would stimulate the liver, cause it to 

 secrete the proper quantity as well as quality of bile, change the morbid 

 action of the glands and secretory system, and restore activity and health 

 to the vital functions generally 'I In my judgment, nothing promised so 

 well as mercury ; and by its well known effect on the entire secretory sys- 

 tem, it would powerfully tend to relieve the congested membranes of the 

 head. In this opinion I was joined by a learned and experienced physi- 

 cian, who, both as a matter of taste and humanity, has given no little at- 

 tention to veterinary science and practice. The proto-chloride of mercury 

 (calomel) was supposed to possess too much specific gravity to reach the 

 fourth stomach, with any certainty, administered in a liquid ; and if ad- 

 ministered as a ball or pill, it would be almost sure not to reach that stom- 

 ach.* The dissolved bi-chloride of mercury (corrosive sublimate) was 

 therefore hit upon. One grain was dissolved in two ounces of water, and 

 one-half ounce of the water (or one-eighth of a grain of corrosive sublimate) 

 was exhibited in a day, in two doses. 



As constipation existed in most of the cases, it was thought that the 

 bowels required to be stimulated into action, and slightly evacuated with 

 a mild laxative. Having noticed in similar cases of debility and torpor of 

 the intestinal canal, that purgation is often followed by a serous diarrhea, 

 difficult to correct, and leading to rapid prostration, and there being no in- 

 testinal irritation to suffer exacerbation, I thought that rhubarb — from its 

 well known tendency to give tone to the bowels, and its secondary effect 

 as a mild astringent — was particularly indicated. It was given in a decoc- 

 tion — the equivalent of ten or fifteen grains at a dose — accompanied with 

 the ordinary carminative and stomachic adjuvants, ginger and gentian, in 

 infusion. 



To a portion of the sheep I administered the rhubarb and its adjuvants 

 alone ; to others I gave the bi-chloride of mercury i/i additioji to the prece- 

 ding, I employed these courses of treatment in a number of cases, the 

 records of all which have been accidentally destroyed with the exception 

 of the following three. 



Case 9th. Ram, three years old. Has been drooping and weak, with 

 feeble appetite, for some time — has been separated from flock. Has eaten 

 his oats irregularly for several days, and refused turnips, bran, etc., alto- 

 gether — much emaciated — eyes partly closed, with a yellowish deposit 

 below them — caruncle and lids bloodless — nostrils impeded with adhesive 

 yellowish mucus. 



March 17th. Weaker than before — would not rise to feed — not seen to 

 eat or ruminate — gait, when helped up, weak and staggering ; eyes near- 

 ly closed — stooled dry, hard faeces — urine dark and reddish. Exhibited 

 rhubarb with ginger and gentian in gruel — blew snuff into nostrils. March 

 ISth, morning — Weaker; refused to eat anything. Exhibited rhubarb, 

 ginger and gentian in gruel. Noon — Urineseemingly bloody : breathing 

 labored : exhibited coiTosive sublimate in gruel. Night — Dying. March 

 19th, morning — Dead. 



Post-mortem appearances. Inner edges of both lobes of liver softened 

 about two inches from horizontal fissure : hypropericarditis and hydro- 



* For reasons which will be hereafter given under the head of " The Proper Way of AdminiBtermg 

 Medicines." 

 (945) 



