CHAPTER VIII. 



THE DISEASES OF SHEEP. - THEIR PREVENTION AND 

 TREATMENT. 



Prevention is better than cure. The modern methods and 

 practice of medicine, both of the physician and the veterinary, 

 are to prevent diseases first as far as possible, and under the care- 

 ful and skillful use of every hygienic precaution, 'this system has 

 had the good, result of lessening the death rate of the cities to 

 nearly one-half of the proportion of only a few years ago. The en- 

 forced cleanliness, the ample supply of pure water, the better ven- 

 tilation of dwellings, the greater personal cleanliness of individuals, 

 due to the copious water service of towns and cities, with 

 the assistance of popular education in this respect, have all had 

 this excellent result. So far this better manner of life has not 

 been adopted in regard to our domestic animals, each owner 

 of which is free to do, or to neglect to do, those things which are 

 requisite for the welfare of his stock. But this matter must soon 

 be brought under the same rule of action by the farmer, the shep- 

 herd, the dairyman, the horse owner, and all others interested in 

 the pursuit of that branch of agriculture, which consists of the 

 rearing and feeding of our domestic animals. 



Fortunately the general study of the hygiene of animal life, 

 and the enforcement of ordinary economy, have had the result 

 of bringing this matter before the attention of our legislatures, 

 and special hygienic laws have been made and enforced througli 

 which this saving of life, and money as well, have been effected. 

 Laws for the destruction of contagious diseases both of animals and 

 the common farm crops, by the destruction of the contagious germs 

 to which they are due, are now beginning to bear fruit; and those 

 deadly diseases by which flocks and herds have been decimated, 

 and uncounted millions of dollars have been wasted, are yearly 

 getting under control through the enforced precautions by which 

 contagion and infection are avoided. ' The scab disease of sheep, 

 for instance, by virtue of such laws rigorously enforced, no longer 

 exists to the dread of the shepherd, but has already been brought 

 under control in some countries, and it is the paramount dutv of 

 American shepherds to see that the same regulations should be 

 made and enforced here, so that sheep may not be infected in 

 their transport by rail from place to place, and the buyer of 

 healthy animals may have either the assurance of safety, or satis- 

 factory means of recompense for losses sustained through the neg- 

 lect or carelessness of those who are the causes of loss in this way. 



