Stone in Sheep, 361 



rubbed up with five or six parts of tar ; or otber simple 

 stimulant and cleansing preparation. 



STONE IN THE BLADDER. 



Male sheep, both rams and wethers, especially when highly 

 fed, are subject to the formation of stones in the bladder. 

 These stones are not of carbonate of lime, as those in the 

 horse and ox (see page 161), but like those occasionally 

 found in the pig, consist of the ammonio-phosphate of mag- 

 nesia. 



Their presence is attributed to high feeding, or to feeding 

 on some special article of diet, especially oil cake and 

 turnips, both these foods being rich in the chemical sub- 

 stances which make up the stone. 



The symptoms are difficulty and pain in passing water, 

 straining, and sometimes bloody urine. 



Treatment. — It is possible to operate successfully for 

 stone in the bladder in sheep; but unless the animal is 

 valuable, it is not worth while to undertake treatment. 



In costly rams, kept for breeding purposes, after the stone 



is removed, the treatment recommended by an English 



writer, IMr. Litt, may be undertaken with a fair prospect of 



preventing any further return or increase of the trouble. He 



begins with a dose as follows : — 



Ko. 404. Castor .oil, 6 to 8 oz. 



Extract of belladonna, 8 to 16 grains. 



Mix for one dose. 



After this has acted he puts the ram on doses of bi- 

 carbonate of potash, thirty to sixty grains, repeated thrice 

 daily, freely diluted with water. The bowels are kept open 

 by laxative food, and the animal is given plenty of exercise 



