354 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



ters on sheep. The most destructive of these are the rot, and 

 epidemics, which are scarcely known in America, except by 

 report. The diseases incident to our flocks, may generally 

 be considered as casualties, rather than as inbred, or neces- 

 sarily arising from the quality of food, or from local causes. 

 It may be safely asserted, that with a dry, rolling pasture, 

 well stocked with varied and nutritious herbage, a clear, run- 

 ning stream, sufficient shade and protection against severe 

 storms, a constant supply of salt, tar, and sulphur in summer ; 

 good hay, and sometimes roots, with ample shelters in winter ; 

 that young sheep, originally sound and healthy, will seldom 

 or never get diseased on American soil. The few which it 

 may be necessary here to mention, will be treated in the sim- 

 plest manner. Remedies of general application, to be admi- 

 nistered, often by the unskilful and ignorant, must neither be 

 elaborate or complicated ; and if expensive, the lives of most 

 sheep would be dearly purchased by their application. A 

 sheep which the owner has reared or purchased at the ordi- 

 nary price, is th.; only domestic animal which can die without 

 material loss to its owner. The wool and pelt will in most 

 instances repay its cost, while the carcasses of other animals 

 will be worthless except for manure. The loss of sheep from 

 occasional disease, will leave the farmer's pocket in a very 

 different condition, from the loss of an equal value in horses 

 or cattle. Yet humanity equally with interest, dictate the use 

 of such simple remedies for the removal of suffering and dis- 

 ease, as may be within reach. 



DIARRHOEA OR SCOURS, when light and not long continued, 

 calls for no remedy. It is a healthful provision of nature, for 

 the more rapid expulsion of some offending matter in the sys- 

 tem, which if retained, might lead to disease. It is generally 

 owing to improper food, as bad hay or noxious weeds ; to a 

 sudden change, as from dry food to fresh grass ; or to an ex- 

 cess, as from overloading the stomach, and sometimes from 

 cold and wet. The remedies are obvious ; change to suitable 

 food in the first two cases ; abstinence after repletion, and 

 warm, dry shelter with light diet in the last, are all that is 

 necessary. When severe or long continued, a dose of castor 

 oil maybe given, and after its operation, give 4 grains opium 

 and one ounce chalk, and put them on dry food. Wheat 

 bran or shorts and oat-meal or flax-seed gruel, are good both 

 for lambs and sheep ; as are also ripe oats or wheat fed in the 

 sheaf, with well cured, sweet hay, and plenty of salt. Fresh 



