COSTIVENESS. STAGGERS 191 



COSTI VENESS. 



When no evacuation appears to be effected, but the animal is con- 

 rinually straining-, two circumstances must be carefully examined 

 :nto, — first, whether there is the obstruction of which I have just 

 spoken, utterly preventing the discharge of the dung, and a speedy 

 remedy being at hand, namely, the removal of the clotied wool; or 

 whether, after the straining, some drops of liquid faeces may not be 

 perceived : this, although often mistaken for costiveness, clearly in- 

 dicates a very different state of the bowels ; they are actually relaxed, 

 — too much so, and the straining results from irritation about the 

 anus. 



Actual costiveness, however, is not an unfrequent complaint, and 

 must be speedily attacked; for it is either the accompaniment of 

 fever, or it will very speedily lead on to fever. The existence of fever 

 should be carefully in(juired into: heaving of the flanks, restlessness, 

 and heat of the mouth, will be sufficient indications of it. Bleeding 

 in proportion to the degree of fever, and the age and strength of the 

 lamb, should then be had recourse to. Next, the bowels must be 

 opened ; one-fourth of the Purging Drink (No. 2, p. 200) will be the 

 best thing that can be given, and it should be repeated every sixth 

 hour until the desired effect is produced. The lamb should be turned 

 into greener and more succulent pasture, and especially where there 

 is any fresh flush of grass; and if, after a while, he should altogether 

 refuse to eat, he m ly be drenched with gruel, in which a little Epsom 

 salts should always be dissolved. While this affords nutriment, it 

 will cool the animal, and open the bowels. 



STAGGERS. 



Many lambs are lost from this disease, and the farmer most cer- 

 tainly has here no one to blame but himself. It attacks the most 

 thriving lambs, and especially when they are about three or four 

 months old ; and it arises from the farmer making a great deal more 

 haste than usual in fattening them for the market. It resembles the 

 blood in cattle, and is usually produced by the same causes. 



The lamb will appear to be in perfect health. All at once he will 

 stand still, heaving violently at the flanks, and with the head pro- 

 truded ; or he will wander about with oreat uncertainty in his walk 

 and manner: he will then all at once fall down and lie strugo-ling 

 upon his back until he is helped up, or dies. Sometimes he is very 

 much convulsed. 



Bleeding must be resorted to immediately, and afterwards iho 

 bowels well opened by means of the Purging Drink. To this some 

 f.oolino- febrifuge medicine should succeed. 



RECIPE (No. 4). 



Cooling Ferer Dnnk. — Take powdered digitalis, one scruple; emetic tartar, ten 

 bT-iins; nitre, twM dracbms. Mix with tliick gruel, and let it he given twice *v(>rj 

 day. 



