380 DISEASES OF SHEEP. 



embraces that of prevention also, as before mentioned: 

 it is chiefly caused by wet and damp pasture lands — 

 hence the proposition for their restoration will be, First, 

 their removal to a high and healthy pasture, and give 

 them hay and nourishing food, such as a little bruised 

 oil cake; or linseed-meal, and place covered troughs in 

 the field containing rock, or common salt, of which the 

 sheep is very fond of licking, and moreover regulates 

 their bowels, and gives them an appetite for food 

 and water. Second, give each sheep epsom salts, two 

 ounces; oil of turpentine, one ounce; pulverized ginger, 

 half an ounce. To be given in half a pint of molasses- 

 water, to be followed up with tonics, if they are found 

 necessary. The following will answer every good pur- 

 pose : Sulphate of iron, in powder, ten grains; gentian, 

 in powder, thirty grains ; ginger, in powder, thirty 

 grains. To be given in linseed-meal gruel once a day 

 for a few days. It is the experience of almost every 

 sheep-farmer, and sometimes too dearly bought, that to 

 place sheep on wet and marshy land, even for a few days, 

 is certain to generate this disease, notwithstanding the 

 animals may have been in perfect health prior to his 

 placing them there. Before placing sheep on pasture 

 where there is access to any bog or marsh it will amply 

 repay the time and trouble to fence it in; or have suffi- 

 cient sheep- drains opened through it six months before 

 any sheep should be put on it. 



Sheep-drains are wide, and not filled up with tiles or 

 stones, but left open. The shepherd can find time to 

 keep both the sheep in order, and the drains clean of 

 rubbish, except in the lambing and clipping season. 



Small-Pox. — Variola Ovina. — Fortunately this dis- 

 ease has as yet been confined to Europe, and more espe- 



