346 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



but torn eagerly from the ground, and the roots with adhering 

 soil is swallowed with avidity. But when the disease is ad- 

 vanced, appetite fails; the eyes stare wildly; the temperature is 

 lower than that of a healthy animal, pointing to want of sup- 

 port to the vital functions; and this reacting on the brain and the 

 principal nerve proceeding from it, produces all the symptoms 

 ^ hich mark this disease. 



This being the case, the treatment calls for prevention rather 

 than curative measures. The causes mentioned are to be avoided, 

 and the ewes must be duly nourished with the best and most 

 digestible food before the lambs are about to be dropped; indeed 

 from the period of conception. This is to be thought of in all 

 these localities where the disease has prevailed previously; and 

 with the drainage of wet pastures, and the dressing of the lands 

 under feeding crops with rich stimulating manures, changed for 

 the use of such special fertilizers as will tend to the growth of 

 wholesome feed. Superphosphate of lime is especially useful in 

 this respect, and a dressing of the feeding crops or pastures with 

 salt has been found useful in clearing the land of this tendency 

 to this disease. 



Treatment in all cases calls for the use of nerve sedatives 

 as well as cooling laxatives. Epsom salts are to be given in full 

 doses, one to two ounces for a lamb, and twice as much for a ewe. 

 Turpentine in two dram doses acts favorably o-n the kidneys, and 

 as an anti-spasmodic. After these 'have been given, bromide of po- 

 tassium is to be given in one dram doses for a yearling, and less 

 in proportion for a lamb as its age may call for. Good nursing 

 is efficacious in support of the weakened system, and after recov- 

 ery the tonic mixture will be useful in aiding digestion, and the 

 due assimilation of the food. 



PLEURISY-INFLAMMATION OF THE LINING 

 MEMBRANE OF THE CHEST. 



This disease is most common in cold, windy, exposed locali- 

 ties, and chiefly among flocks on the range and without shelter. 

 It frequently accompanies an attack of rheumatism in which 

 the joints are involved, and severe lameness is the prevailing 

 symptom. 



The symptoms are shivering, uneasy movements, pawing the 

 ground, turning the head to the flank, general uneasiness the 

 sheep lying down and rising alternately with frequent intermis- 

 sion. The pulse is rapid and the breathing hurried, with short 

 inspirations suddenly checked, while the inspiration is slow and 

 prolonged. At every breath the abdomen moves and the head is 

 held down, the eyes are half closed, and a hacking cough occurs. 

 . Appetite and rumination are both suspended and the nose is dry. 

 Lameness and stiffness of the ioints due to the accompanying 

 rheumatism are prominent. This disease terminates in hydro- 

 thorax, or the effusion of serum in the chest. These symptoms 

 continue for about four or five days, when they gradually change 

 to those resulting from the accumulated serum in the chest 



