344 Diseases of Sheep, 



In the study of its prevention, therefore, owners should 

 choose j)asturages with good drainage, and of moderate 

 growth, and avoid, in their desire to fatten and strengthen, a 

 stimulating diet, which maj result in developing germs of 

 poison in the blood. 



Symptoms, — The sheep is affected by charbonous fever in 

 two forms, which by the uneducated are supposed to be dis- 

 tinct diseases ; in fact, they have been so spoken of in quite 

 recent works on diseases of these animals. The first and 

 most rapidly fatal form is 



Splenic Apoplexy. — The attack is very sudden, the animal 

 ceasing to eat; the body suddenly shivering, as if struck with 

 a chill ; there is staggering or reeling, and an effort to stand 

 by putting the feet well asunder, w^hich may fail, and the 

 body falls. The breath is rapid, the eyes are red, the teeth 

 grate together, and loss of sensibility is common. The lin- 

 ing membrane of the mouth is injected wdth blood of a dull 

 red color ; the dung is passed without effort, and the urine is 

 colored with blood. A bloody froth issues from the mouth 

 and nose ; the animal is seized with convulsions, in which he 

 throws his legs about and bends his head and neck back- 

 ward ; there is a rattling in his throat, and he expires. 



Such a rapid, apoplectic form of the disease is more com- 

 mon in young sheep and those very richly fed. The other 

 and slower variety is that seen in older animals, and those of 

 a less plethoric condition. This is more properly a 



Charbonous Fever, — The first symptom in this form is 

 that the anhnal walks with a shorter step than usual, caused 

 by pain in the bowels; soon he begins to lie down and rise up 

 frequently, or stands apart with head hanging and back 

 arched. The eyes are dull, or bloodshot, the belly swollen, 

 and the ears droop. ( )ften upon several places on the skin, 

 especially of those parts which are but lightly covered with 



