356 DISEASES OF THE SHEEP, 



Prevention. — Change the flock often, and neither a poor 

 pasture nor too rich a one will follow. But peradventure it 

 happens that sheep must be put suddenly on too high keep, 

 salt them freely before it takes place, and this should be re- 

 peated for several successive days. 



BRAXY. 



This disease is not unusual to sheep kept in the latitude 

 of ours. It originates from several causes ; and first — a 

 sudden change from green to dry food ; second — when the 

 animal partakes of some irritating weed to which it is wholly 

 a stranger ; third — frozen grass is an exciting cause, rapidly 

 producing inflammation by lowering the temperature of the 

 stomachs so as to arrest digestion ; fourth — when, being 

 worried, forced to plunge into a stream of cold water. It is 

 constipation of the bowels, followed by a high degree of in- 

 flammation. 



Sympto7ns. — The sheep is seen to frequently lie down and 

 get up, loathing its food, and drinking often ; the mouth is 

 parched, the eyes red. partly closed and watery. The head 

 is down, the back drawn up, and belly swollen ; there is 

 scarcely any passage through the bowels, the urine is small 

 in quantity, high colored, and sometimes bloody. Death 

 occurs not unfrequently after a lapse of a few hours, and 

 again, not till nearly the expiration of a week. 



Treatment. — Bleeding must be resorted to at as early a 

 stage of the disease as possible ; but previous to this the 

 sheep must be placed in a tub of warm water, and there kept 

 for half an hour ; then administer two ounces of Glauber 

 salts, dissolved in water. An injection of tobacco decoction 

 will be also of great benefit. The animal must then be kept 

 warm by throwing a blanket about it, and given laxative 

 provender for a week or more. 



STRETCHES. 



This disease very commonly occurs in flocks which are 

 kept exclusively on hay, or other dry food, and is fatal very 

 often, unless an early application of medicine follows the 

 attack. 



Symptoms. — The sheep will alternately lie down and rise 

 at brief intervals, frequently stretching, and refuses every 

 kind of food. It is now generally admitted that it proceeds 



