176 CONKEY'S STOCK BOOK 



Common Diseases of Sheep 



ABORTION Next to the cow, the ewe is most liable to this trouble, al- 

 though with proper care from the flockmaster most cases 

 can be prevented. Abortion in ewes is commonly caused by some one of 

 the following: Pasturing on frosty herbage in wet, cold weather; overload- 

 ing the stomach with coarse, innutritious fodder; eating such food as rag- 

 weed, frozen turnip leaves, beet leaves; ergoted grain or hay, smutty corn 

 or oats, etc.; jostling or hustling by the flock; chasing by dogs. The careful 

 shepherd will be on his guard against all such dangers. Treat the same 

 as with cattle, page 141, using about one-fourth the amount of carbolic 

 acid for the hypodermic injection. 



ANAEMIA This disease attacks lambs usually. See description under 

 PAPER SKIN Hoose, Husk, Paper Skin, etc. 



BLOAT The symptoms are swelling of the abdomen, with skin tense like 

 a drum. The left side, over the paunch or rumen, is most affected. 

 The animal stops eating and shows dulness, pain and suffocation. The 

 trouble is due to gas distending the paunch, which is full of fermenting 

 food. The attack may follow drinking a great quantity of water immediately 

 after eating, or feeding on frozen forage, wet pasture, such as corn, clover, 

 rape, etc., with the dew on it. It may come from overeating any succulent 

 feed, to which they have not been accustomed. Usually the whole flock is 

 affected at the same time. Relief must be prompt or they will suffocate. 



Treatment Same as for Cattle, page 143, but first clip away the wool, then 

 plunge the trocar into the paunch of each animal, midway 

 between hip and last rib, about three inches from the backbone. When the 

 trocar is pulled out, the canula, being a hollow tube, will let the gas out 

 immediately. When the gas has escaped take out the canula and the wound 

 will close together. Of course the instrument should be clean ready for 

 emergency; and it is better to oil it before plunging into the animal. If the 

 trocar and canula are not handy use a clean knife, dipping it in Conkey's 

 Nox-i-cide Dip and Disinfectant solution ( l / 2 tablespoonful to 1 pint of 

 water), and insert a large quill to keep the passage open after the knife 

 is pulled out After this give each animal a tablespoonful of baking soda in 

 l / 2 pint of warm water, which will stop further fermentation. Then treat 

 the animal to bring back to condition, with a drench as follows: 



3 oz. sodium sulphate. 



1 teaspconful of Conkey's Stock Tonic. 



1 pint warm water. 



Sometimes bloat can be relieved by driving the whole flock into a 

 stream, or by dashing cold water over the side, thus starting contraction 

 so that the gas will be expelled naturally. In any treatment, give the doses 

 indicated above, to step further fermentation and to bring the flock back 

 to condition. 



CATARRH COLD This is a common trouble in spring or fall, but may 

 IN THE HEAD occur any time on exposure to cold winds or rains. 



Usually it occurs after washing or shearing. The 

 symptoms are snuffing', sneezing, coughing. 



Treatment Put the s^eep in dry, v arm, clean quarters and mix with the 



feed Conkey's Stock TOVM'C according to directions. If the 



discharge from the nose interferes with breathing, wash the noses with a 



