The Shepherds' Guide, 93 



the happy effects of our climate and pastures we 

 have heretofore been free from it, we may hope 

 again to get rid of it. It is said to be brought on 

 by sheep feeding on cold wet soils, and particular- 

 ly flooded grass ; to be prevented, and now and 

 then cured by sound pastures, dry food, grain, 

 and some cordials, such as porter and milk punch. 

 The poke, a watery swelling under the throat, is 

 a symptom of the last stage of the rot, and follows 

 the course of that disease. 



The Scab is another disease, of which, compa- 

 red with our present experience, we may be said 

 heretofore to have known but little. It is mani- 

 fested by the infected sheep rubbing itself against 

 posts and trees, and biting its skin, to allay the 

 itching ; the wool loosens from the infected part, 

 hangs out from the fleece, and the skin beneath 

 is found to have a red fretted appearance, is rough 

 and scabby. It very much resembles the itch in 

 the human body, is equally infectious, and is 

 cured by the same remedies. It is to be distin- 

 guished from that falling off of the fleece in large 

 parcels, which is frequendy seen among our poor 

 sheep in the spring of the year, soon after they be- 

 gin to get plenty of food ; as well as from another 

 disease which we have seen among the Spanish 

 sheep lately imported, with ragged fleeces, and 

 hides almost bare. I have seen many such, which 

 hxl not the scab, and which, I believe had swfftr- 

 ed in consequence of heat, confinement and fe- 



