380 Diseases of Sheep, 



recognize the early signs of the disease, in order that efficient 

 measures for its prevention may be adopted. 



The Scotch shepherds tell the presence of the fluke in two 

 ways : 1, by the feel of the flesh ; 2, by the appear- 

 ance of the eye. They catch a ewe, and clapping their hand 

 on the small of the back, they rub the flesh backward and 

 forward, betwixt their fingers and thumb and the ends of 

 the short ribs. If the flesh is solid and firm they consider 

 her as sound ; if they find it soft and flabby, and imparting 

 a crackling feel to the fingers, as if there was water or 

 blubber in it, they consider it a sign of unsoundness. 



The other plan is to take the sheep's head between the 

 hands, and press down the eyelids so as to push forward the 

 winking membrane (memhrana niditans), and bring into 

 view the white, or conjunctiva. In health, this is thin, pink, 

 and free from turbid secretion ; and if it appears thickened, 

 yellowish, or dead white, with a secretion altered to a whitish 

 or yellowish matter, the sheep is condemned. 



The progress of the rot is usually slow. The animal be- 

 comes inactive and dull ; the lining membrane of the mouth 

 turns pale, the flesh wastes, the skin loses its ruddy color, 

 becomes dry, and devoid of the natural oil on the fleece. It 

 is said that a dry, scaly state of the skin on the inner side of 

 the thighs, particularly where it is uncovered with wool or 

 hair, is one of the earliest symptoms apparent. 



As the disease progresses, the flanks become hollow, the 

 back rigid, and there are weakness and tenderness about the 

 loins. The fleece falls off in patches, the belly swells, the 

 eye becomes jaundiced, and there is dropsy in different parts 

 of the body. The thirst is usually excessive, the appetite 

 irregular and unnatural ; there are diarrhea, a weak heart and 

 general stupor. 



After death the liver is found to be hard, irregular, of a 

 dirty chocolate brown, and filled with flukes. The meat is 



