368 Diseases of Sheep. 



CONSTIPATION IN LAMBS. 



Lambs, especially those which are fed artificially, either on 

 cow's milk or the milk of other ewes, are liable to constipa- 

 tion. The bowels ceasing to act, the animal droops, and 

 lies down most of the time. Its belly becomes distended, 

 the urine becomes scanty or almost suspended, the brain is 

 oppressed, a stupor supervenes, and if not speedily relieved, 

 the animal dies. 



The treatment in such cases may be by medicines which 

 act on the bowels, or by injections into the rectum, or by 

 both combined. Two or three spoonfuls of melted lard, or 

 one spoonful of castor oil are suitable internally. But the 

 most reliable treatment is to give the lamb an injection of 

 warm milky about the temperature of the body, colored to a 

 light brown by molasses stirred in it, two or three ounces 

 of which are to be administered with a small syringe. To 

 give this properly, the lamb should be held up perpendicu- 

 larly by the hind legs, so that the fore feet but just touch the 

 floor, during and for a moment after the injection. If 

 hardened dung is not discharged with the fluid, or soon after- 

 ward, the injection is to be repeated. 



If after the medicine has operated the lamb continues in- 

 active and dull, it requires a tonic, as some spoonfuls of 

 strong boneset tea (^Eiipatorium perfoliatum), or this, recom- 

 mended by Prof. Gamgee : — 



No. 413. Golden sulphur of antimony, J drachm. 



Common salt, 1 drachm. 



For a dose, once daily. 



DIAEEHEA IN LAMBS. 



Diarrhea, which frequently attacks whole herds on first 

 feeding on green grass, is usually of no danger ; and when 

 in individual cases simple diarrhea calls for attention, it 



