SHEEP. 



which the disease derives its name. ' 

 The treatment should consist of mild 

 aperients, with gentian and ginger, 

 and a liberal allowance of hay and 

 corn. Inflammation of the coats of . 

 the intestines (ett/critis) would not 

 always be readily distinguished from 

 the last disease, except that there is ! 

 more stamping on the ground and i 

 striking the belly with the hind legs, 

 and occasional lying on tbe back. 

 The principal causes of enteritis are 

 improper food, or an excess of that 

 which is healthful, or exposure to 

 cold and wet. Here, also, bleeding 

 is imperatively required, but the pur- 

 gative should not consist of anything 

 stronger than sulphur. Diarrhwa is a 

 very prevalent disease among lambs, 

 and especially after a change of diet 

 or of situation. When it is not vio- 

 lent, and does not seem to be at- 

 tended by colic, a Utile absorbent 

 and astringent medicine, with a few 

 grains of opium, may be administered. 

 The diarrhoea of sheep may be simi- 

 larly treated ; but when the disease is 

 assuming the character of dysentery, 

 when the discharge is more frequent 

 and copious, and nungled with mucus, 

 a larger quantity of this medicine 

 should be given, and some blood ab- 

 stracted if there is any degree of fe- 

 ver." 



Costiveness, or stretches, is attend- 

 ed with loss of appetite. The animal 

 also frequently lies down and stretch- 

 es itself: two tai)le-spoonfuls of cas- 

 tor oil or one ounce of salts will rem- 

 edy it. The disease is said to arise 

 from want of green food. Braxy ap- 

 pears to be an inflammation of the 

 stomach ; the sheep refuses food, is 

 costive, drinks often, mouth parched, 

 eyes red, belly swollen and tender. 

 Bleed, and give febrifuge medicines ; 

 place in the house, and, after a few 

 days, give aperient medicines. 



" The diseases of the respiratory 

 organs are often of a serious charac- 

 ter. During the greater part of the 

 winter the nostrils will sometimes 

 be idled with mucus, and the sheep 

 is compelled to stop for a moment at 

 every second or third bite, and snort 

 violently, and stand with his nmzzle 

 O o 2 



extended and labouring for breath. 

 If his general IkmIUi does not srom 

 to be affected, this nasal gleet will all 

 pass away as the spring approaches. 

 If, however, any of the flock should 

 now appear to be losing flesh and 

 strength, it is too probable that con- 

 sumption is at hand. The only chance 

 of saving or doing them any good will 

 be to place them in some comfortable 

 pasture, letting them have salt within 

 their reach, and giving them the hy- 

 driodate of potash, in doses gradual- 

 ly increasing from three grains to 

 twelve, morning and night. 



" Lambs, when too early and too 

 much exposed, are subject to diseas- 

 es of the upper air passages (/arywirj- 

 tis and bronchitis), the one attended 

 by a ringing cough, and the other by 

 one of a more wheezmg sound. 

 Bleeding will always be necessary 

 for the tirst, with aperient medicine. 

 A mild purgative will usually suflice 

 for the second, or, possibly, an ounce 

 or an ounce and a half of common 

 salt may be given dissolved in six 

 ounces of lime-water. 



" Inflammation of the lungs, recog- 

 nised by difficulty of breathing, heav- 

 ing at the flanks, and distressing 

 cough, is a disease of frequent occur- 

 rence in sheep. It speedily runs its 

 course, and the lungs are found to be 

 one disorganized mass. Bleeding and 

 purging are indispensable ; but as 

 soon as the violent symptoms seem 

 to remit, tonics, composed of gentian 

 and spirit of nitrous a;ther, must fol- 

 low. 



" Epidemics. — Sheep are not so lia- 

 ble to the attack of these diseases as 

 horses and cattle. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, sheep suflTer from epidemic dis- 

 eases very seriously. They have 

 cough, and discharge from the nose 

 and eyes. The appetite ceases. 

 Those that are affected by the dis- 

 ease separate themselves from the 

 rest of the flock ; they continually lie 

 down, and many of them die. They 

 exhibit, after death, inflammation 

 through all the contents of the chest 

 and abdomen, with effusion into the 

 cavities of both. The disease is most 

 rapid in its course. The shepherd 



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