ESSEX SOCIETY. 81 



them. In short, however, whether the sheep dies or is killed, 

 it has been well remarked, it never dies insolvent. The wool 

 will cover all the animal costs for rearing and feeding. 



Washing- Sheep. 



This operation is usually performed about a week before 

 shearing. It is a severe one to the animal, and attended with 

 much labor and some danger to the operator. Sheep often 

 take a chill which they do not survive. If followed by cold, 

 wet weather, the consequences cannot but be bad. Cannot 

 the washing be dispensed with ? I believe it can. The exper- 

 iment has been made, to wash the wool after shearing, and 

 spare the sheep. The fleece need not be greatly broken ; and 

 humanity certainly requires that a perfect substitute for so 

 unnatural an operation would be found in the way just in- 

 timated. 



Diseases of Sheep. 



An essay upon sheep would be imperfect, without something 

 upon their disorders. The flocks in Europe are often devastated 

 by fevers, both malignant, inflammatory, and typhus ; but they 

 are scarcely known in the United States. 



The same remark applies, says Randall, to inflammation of 

 the brain, (phrenitis,) of the stomach, (gastritis,) of the bowels, 

 (enteretis,) bladder, (cystitis,) &c. 



Opthalmia, (inflammation of the eye,) is not uncommon in 

 the United States. Mr. Grove recommended blowing pulver- 

 ized red chalk into the inflamed eye, and some throw in to- 

 bacco juice! Mr. Randall was of opinion that pain was 

 diminished by bathing with tepid water; and also a weak 

 solution of the sulphate of zinc combined with tincture of 

 opium. 



Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, does sometimes 

 occur. The sheep grows dull, loses its appetite and cud, or at 

 least ceases to chew it ; the pulse is at first hard and rapid. 

 This disease occurs after exposure to sudden cold. Mr. 

 Spooner recommends early and copious bleeding, repeated 

 every few hours, if necessary; and a purge of two ounces 

 Epsom salts, which may be repeated in smaller doses, if the 

 11 



