366 Diseases of Sheep. 



by injudicious feeding of tlie ewe during her period of 

 gestation, thus vitiating the blood of the lamb, and render- 

 ing it unable to withstand the changes of temperature to 

 which it is exposed. Thus it is stated by Mr. Clok that if 

 the diet of the ewe during the last months of pregnancy 

 consists of much clover, hay, potatoes, grain, and drinks of 

 groats, the lambs are very prone to palsy soon after birth. 

 Mouldy food of all kinds, mouldy oil cakes, rotten carrots, 

 potatoes, etc., as well as putrid water, are very injurious. 



The injurious influence of vitiated food in producing this 

 rheumatic disease in lambs has not only been proved by 

 numerous accidental observations, but is shown beyond a 

 doubt by interesting and striking direct experiments. The 

 fact that the milk of the mother exercises great influence in 

 the production of the disease is proved by the experiment of 

 allowing healthy lambs to suck the milk of a ewe whose 

 young perished in this way. This experiment has been tried 

 repeatedly, and the lambs were always affected with the dis- 

 ease. The fact is therefore beyond a doubt. 



Not only vitiated or improper food causes the milk of the 

 mother to become injurious, but also a diseased condition of 

 the ewe, especially if she be affected with the fluke and rot. 

 In lambs, catching cold is a source of the disease, which is 

 the more certainly produced if the above-mentioned predis- 

 position exists. It cannot, however, be stated with certainty 

 whether catching cold is necessary, or whether the disease 

 may be produced without, nor has it been ascertained if it 

 can arise solely from catching cold without the presence of a 

 predisposition for the disease or of other circumstances. 

 Both are probable, however. It is most common during the 

 wet, cold days of March and April and during bad weather, 

 especially when the sheep are kept in warm, narrow and close 

 stables. It appears particularly in weak, thin-wooled lambs 



