Diarrhea in Lambs. 369 



sL-Ould be treated on the same principles and with the same 

 remedies previously recommended for calves (see page 337). 

 But in sucking lambs diarrhea is often a very fatal disease, 

 and must receive the closest attention of the shepherd, in 

 order to rescue the patient. 



Causes. — These are chiefly exposure to cold, sudden 

 changes of temperature, as a hot stable in winter, and the 

 drafts and bad air it involves, and improper diet. Cold 

 drinks and a plethoric condition of the ewe are other causes. 



Symptoms. — These are well described by Mr. Clok, as 

 follows : The disease appears without warning ; the lamb 

 becomes languid and sad, keeps away from the other lambs, 

 stands with bent back, or lies down frequently. The ex- 

 crement, which is repeatedly discharged, is thin, whitish or 

 greenish, afterward watery and mixed with mucus, and finally 

 bloody. The animal ceases to suck and eat, but is very 

 thirsty. It bleats frequently, evinces signs of pain if pres- 

 sure is applied to its belly, and makes efforts to discharge 

 excrement. The lamb rapidly loses flesh, its belly sinks in, 

 and death ensues between the second and fifth days, and 

 sometimes even on the first day. 



If the body is opened, the rennet-bag especially, and a 

 large portion of the intestines, are found to be inflamed. 

 The rennet-bag and the intestines, particularly the inflamed 

 parts, contain a substance looking like cheese or curdled 

 milk. The best sheep are most liable to the disease, but if 

 it appears as a plague, all lambs without distinction suffer 

 from it. 



Treatment. — This should, of course, be, in the first place, 

 to do away with the predisposing causes we have mentioned 

 above. A general rule is to change the food as soon as the 

 diarrhea appears in a fold, even though it may not seem to 

 be at fault. Ventilation, pure air, and a temperature between 



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