312 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



organs sufficiently matured for the perfect operation of the vital 

 functions, it is partus prematurus, or premature birth. The 

 former occurrence is a disease, the latter simply an accidental 

 shortening of the normal period of the inter-uterial growth and 

 existence of the fetus. In practice these two conditions differ only 

 in the result. Abortion is the birth of an immature fetus which is 

 dead, or too weak and ill-formed to live. A premature birth re- 

 sults in a weak animal which may live and thrive or succumb 

 and peris 1 !], in a short time. It is frequently the case that an 

 animal prematurely born may by good management survive and 

 become as profitable as one that has passed its full time. 



The sheep, and the goat a closely-related species are most 

 liable to this accident of all the smaller domestic animals; but 

 not nearly so as the cow. The cow averages 20 per cent of abor- 

 tions, the sheep, among nearly 6,000 recorded births, suffered 

 26 abortions or about 4 per cent only. 



Abortion occurs in the sheep and goat generally twenty days 

 or more before the due period, or the 140th day after fecundation. 

 The nearer this limit the more serious the risk of the dam is. 



Abortion is sporadic, that is, occurs here or there over a wide 

 extent; or it is epizootic, and occurs numerously in any special 

 and distinct locality. 



The former occurrence may be due to an unfavorable season 

 in which the ewes suffer unusual hardships, mostly deficiency of 

 food or sudden unfavorable conditions of the weather. Dry cold 

 is not so mischievous as wet, cold weather; and frosty nights fol- 

 lowing warm days, or perhaps more accurately the reverse, is the 

 most frequent of all accidents. Pasturing on the frosty herbage 

 in such a condition of weather so chills the womb by contact 

 with the cold stomach, as to produce this disorder more frequently 

 than any other cause. As prevention is the only remedy for this 

 disease, it is the business of the shepherd to exercise caution in 

 this regard. Another frequent cause of abortion is overloading the 

 stomach with coarse, innutritions, indigestible fodder; in fact 

 the stomach is so closely connected with the uterus, that a sym- 

 pathy between these two organs exists which is to be well consid- 

 ered by the shepherd, and the feeding is to be so managed that 

 .indigestion, and especially bloating of the stomach, is to be 

 avoided. It also goes without saying that the food of a pregnant 

 ewe is to* be sufficiently nutritious and well balanced to supply all 

 the needs of the ewe and the fetus within her. 



Certain foods, too, are to be avoided. These are the coarse 

 sedges and weeds growing on low lands; the aromatic ragweed 

 and" allied plants which contain a similar essential oil to which 

 the strong odor is due; the leaves of turnips in a frozen condition, 

 and the leaves of the beet in any condition are all liable to cause 

 abortion, or so alleged by several noteworthy authorities. 



Dogs ars the most serious cause of this disease by chasing 

 or injuring the ewes during the latter part of the pregnancy. 

 Fright, probably by its injurious action on the nervous system, 

 as well a.s the violent physical exertion, conspire to produce this 



