510 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



ness of the lips and of the month, of the eyes, and of the skin ? At the same time, are 

 there no indications of weakness and decay ? Nothing to show that the constitution is 

 fatally undermined ? Bleed — abstiact, according to the circumstances of the case, eight, 

 ten, or twelve ounces of blood. There is no disease of an inflammatory character at its 

 commcncemeflt which is not benefited by early bleeding. _ To this let a dose of physic 

 succeed — two or three ounces of Epsom salts, admmistered in the cautious manner so fre- 

 quendy recommended ; and to these means let a change of diet be immediately added — 

 good hay in the field, and hay. straw, or chaff, in tin; straw-yard. 



The physic having operated, or an additional dose, perchance, having been administered 

 in order to quicken tlie action of the first, the farmer will look out for farther means and 



appliances Two or three grains of calomel may be given daily, but mixed with 



half the quantity of opium, in order to secure its beneficial, and ward oft its injurious effects 

 on the ruminant. To this should be added — a simple and cheap medicine, but that which 



is the sheet-anchor of the practitioner here — common salt In the first place, it is a 



purgative inferior to few, when given in a full dose ; and it is a tonic as well as a p:n-gative. 

 .... A mild tonic, as well as au aperient, is plainly indicated soon after the commencement 

 of rot. The doses should be from two to three drachma, repeated morning and night. Whea 

 liie inflammatory stage is clearly passed, stronger tonics may be added to the salt, and there 

 are none superior to the gentian and ginger roots ; from one to two drachms of each, finely 



IMjwdered, may be added to each dose of the salt The sheep having a little recov- 



<'red from the disease, should still continue on the best and driest pasture on the farm, and 

 should always have salt within their reach The rot is not infectious." 



Di.tRiiHKA. — This disease is often more properly a K(^;rvoM,9 than a febrile 

 one — in the former case, a morbid increase of the peristaltic motion of the 

 bowels — in the latter, an inflammation of the mucous coat of the smallei 

 intestines. But for the puiiiose of viewing it in connection with dysen- 

 tery, to which it is sometimes closely allied, and into which it often runs 

 — and which is clearly a febrile disease — it will be described here. 



Conimon diarrhea, purging, or scours, manifests itself simply by the 

 copiousness and fluidity of the alvine evacuations. It is brought on by a 

 sudden change from chy feed to green, or by the introduction of im- 

 proper substances into the stomach. It is important to clearly distinguish 

 this disease from dysentery. In diarrhea there is no apparent gcnsiral 

 fever ; the appetite remains good ; the stools are thin and M'atery, but 

 tmaccompanied with slime (mucus) and blood ; the odor of the ftpces is 

 far less offensive than in dysentery ; the general condition of the animal is 

 but little changed. 



Treatment. — Confinement to dry food for a day or two, and a gradual re- 

 turn to it, oftentimes suffice. I have rarely administered anything to grown 

 .slieep, and never have lost one from this disease. To lambs, especially if 

 attacked in the fall, the disease is more serious. If the purging is severe, 

 ;ind especially if any mucus is observed with the faeces, the feculent mat- 

 ter should be removed from the bowels by a gentle cathartic — as half a 

 drachm of rhubarb, or an oinice of linseed-oil, or half an ounce of Epsom 

 salts to a lamb. This should always be followed by an astringent, and in 

 nine case^ out of ten, the latter will serve in the first instance. I gener- 

 ally administer, say, \ oz. of prepared chalk in half a pint of tepid milk, 

 ouce a day for two or three days, at the end of which, and frequently after 

 the first dose, the purging will have ordinarily abated or entirely ceased. 



The following is the formula of the English " sheep's cordial " usually 

 prescribed in cases of diarrhea by the English veterinarians, and there can 

 he no doubt it is a safe and excellent remedy — better probably than sim- 

 ]>le chalk and milk, in severe cases : Takt; of prepared chalk one ounce, 

 powdered catechu half an ounce, powdere-d ginger two drachnis, and jxnv- 

 derod opium half a drachm ; mix them withlialf a pint of peppermint wa- 

 ter — give two or three table-spoonsfnll morning and night to a grown 

 hheep, and b.ilf that ouantit-y to a lanib. 



