THE MORE COMMON" AILMENTS OF SHEEP 419 



Goiter is an affection of the thyroid glands which 

 causes them to swell so as to form lumplike substances 

 in the throat. It affects both lambs and older sheep, but 

 more especially the latter, and it is the most harmful 

 to them when they are newly born. The lumps are in 

 some instances small and hard ; in others they are large 

 and soft. In many instances the newly born lambs thus 

 affected will soon die; at other times the trouble leaves 

 them. The cause of this trouble, which frequently leads 

 to serious loss, is not well understood. It occurs in sheep 

 of varying degrees of thrift, but to a greater extent prob- 

 ably in those more or less pampered than when kept in 

 the ordinary way. It would seem probable from the be- 

 havior of sheep grazed on soil which contains much lime, 

 and which at the same time drink water considerably im- 

 pregnated with lime and magnesia, that these conditions 

 favor the increase of goiter. However it may originate 

 primarily, it would seem to be, in a sense, constitutional 

 and therefore transmissible. Such being the case, goi- 

 tered dams, or dams which have produced goitered lambs, 

 should not be retained for breeding. Applications of 

 tincture of iodine once a day may give some relief; also 

 iodide of potassium given in doses of say 5 grains for a 

 lamb at certain intervals. 



Ophthalmia, better known as Conjunctivitis, is an 

 affection of the eyes of sheep which, unchecked, may lead 

 to blindness. An inflamed condition is always present. 

 Simple ophthalmia is a frequent complication of ordinary 

 nasal catarrh. Other exciting causes include exposure 

 to cold winds and drafts. It is not infectious, though 

 many cases may occur in a flock simultaneously, having 

 originated from the same cause. A zinc lotion, prepared 

 by a druggist as for treating sore eyes in an individual, 

 dropped into the eye once or more frequently, should 

 effect a cure. 



Tumors may affect various organs of sheep. Very 

 commonly they occur at or within the anus. Their pres- 



