DISEASES OF SHEEP. 335 



more in variation of food than in medicine. The bowels should 

 be kept free by warm bran mashes, and if necessary by the use 

 of saline laxatives as Epsom salts in two ounce doses, given daily. 

 If the kidneys fail to act do not give diuretics, but foment the 

 loins with hot water and mustard. If this is not effective apply 

 fomentations of a strong decoction of digitalis to the loins. The 

 tonic mixture will be of great value in restoring the action of the 

 stomach and bowels. 



ANTHRAX BLACK QUARTER BLACK LEG BRAXY. 



This disease, called braxy by the English and Scotch shep- 

 herds, is rapidly fatal, and the first information of its appearance 

 in a flock is usually the dead sheep lying in the pasture in the early 

 morning. It is a special form of the disease of cattle commonly 

 known as splenic fever, or Texan fever; but differs from the com- 

 mon disease in several ways. It is not believed to be contagious to 

 other animals, hence it is due, when prevalent, to some unwhole- 

 some condition of the feed or water, or continued indigestion by 

 which the blood becomes loaded with impure matter. 



The symptoms are red blood-shot eyes, an excited and alarmed 

 expression of the sick animals, a full, rapid pulse, quick breathing, 

 hot, dry mouth, the limbs and body especially the belly are hot 

 and the skin is red, the urine is dark colored and scanty, the 

 bowels are costive, the dung is slimy, and the animal staggers 

 about as if to fall. It generally stands near a fence or a building, 

 with the head doAvn and unable to notice anything. 



The later symptoms are harshness of the wool, which, if 

 pulled, comes off in handfuls; the animal becomes insensible, falls, 

 struggles a little and dies; all this occurring in a few hours. 



Treatment is of no use. The only thing to be done is to un- 

 derstand the causes of the diseas, and prevent or avoid them. 

 After death the body is found already far advanced in putridity. 

 The flesh under the skin, where handling causes a sort of crackling 

 sound, especially on the shoulder and the loins, is found to be 

 filled with gas and much swollen, the blood is thick and black, 

 whence the name of the disease anthrax, which means black. 

 The belly is filled with a red liquid, the omasum the third stom- 

 ach or maniplies is impacted and filled between the leaves with 

 hard, dry, undigested food; the heart is filled with black blood, 

 and the lungs very red. 



Escape from this disease is a matter only of prevention. There 

 is no time for this to be treated in any way. The causes are to be 

 avoided. As it is riot contagious in this form, except through 

 poisoning by the dead carcass, it is easily managed after the first 

 appearance of it in a flocK. 



Exposure to sudden changes of the weather is to be avoided. 

 Excessive warmth, suddenly changing to cold rain and winds, 

 by chilling the body, is one of the most frequent causes. Over- 

 feeding on rich young grass or luxuriant green crops, too sud- 

 denly begun; the use of those foods, as the oil -cakes which are 

 rich in protein, and thus unusually stimulating; and equally the 



