348 Diseases of Sheep, 



These spots increase in size and run togetlier, becoming ele- 

 vated in the centre, where in a few days a small blister or 

 vesicle appears, containing a liquid at first like a drop of 

 water, later turbid and like pus. This is the smallpox 

 vesicle, which in the sheep, however, remains flat on the 

 surface, and does not become hollowed or " umbilicated,'' as 

 it does in the cow and in man. In the fourth week of the 

 disease these vesicles dry up, and form scales. When these 

 fall off a bare spot is left which is never after filled with 

 wool or hair. 



With these local symptoms there are others of constitu- 

 tional disturbance. The animal wanders away from the 

 flock, loses appetite, licks the earth, is thirsty and feeble. 

 The eyes are bloodshot, the breathing labored and the gen- 

 eral condition one of fever of more or less severity according 

 to the violence of the attack. 



Treatment. — The treatment of the disease has been very 

 unsuccessful, and consequently the more attention has been 

 given to its prevention. This has been attempted in two 

 directions by isolation, and by ovinationy as the operation of 

 vaccination is called when applied to sheep. 



Professor Gamgee relies entirely on isolation. He advises 

 that the diseased be separated to a long distance from the 

 healthy animals during the earliest stages of the malady; 

 and that disinfectants be freely and liberally used, both on 

 the sick and the well. He has no confidence in inoculation 

 or ovination, believing that it rather disseminates than 

 checks the malady. 



On the other hand, the French and German veterinarians 

 are nearly unanimous in favor of ovination ; and if we can 

 rely on the statistics they furnish, we cannot doubt but that 

 it has succeeded most satisfactorily in staying the progress 

 of the disease — quite as much so as in the human race. In 

 many countries of Europe, especially in Austria, growing 



