DISEASES OF SHEEP. 351 



Afterwards they become deep red, then purple, and finally 

 black in color. As the disease advances, unless improvement 

 occurs, the ewe becomes exhausted and dies in a comatose con- 

 dition, due to the excessive pressure of blood on the brain. 



The womb is found on examination to be inflamed, patchy, 

 and even gangrened, and black and decomposed. The whole 

 system is congested and full of blood, the heart especially so. 

 The womb is highly inflamed and the veins often contain pus 

 instead of blood. As this disease is apt to affect other ewes 

 in the flock, the first one dead should be examined for cer- 

 tainty as to the disorder, so that preventive measures may be 

 taken if required to save others. These are to give a copious 

 laxative (Epsom salts) to the ewe; four ounces will not be too 

 much. Following this, give tincture of aconite in doses of five 

 drops repeated every six hours. Copious bleeding from the vein 

 on the face just below the eye is useful to relieve the congestion. 

 Injections of warm soapy water are desirable to relieve the bowels. 

 After these remedies are used for 24 hours give the tonic mixture 

 in warm gruel three times a day. 



POISONING. 



A sheep is a foolish animal, and is as apt to eat injurious 

 stuff as to choose good food. And as there are many poisonous 

 plants that sheep come in the way of, and will eat readily, cau- 

 tion is to be observed to destroy them or keep the sheep from 

 them, and it is well to be prepared to take the right means, and 

 have in readiness the right remedies, to prevent losses in tnis way. 

 The most prevalent and deadly plant of this kind is that member 

 of the heath family known as the narrow leaved kalmia (Kalmia 

 Angustifolia) or commonly "sheeps laurel," and "lamb kill." 

 Indeed there are several plants of this heath family that are 

 poisonous. The rhododendron is equally virulent with the laurels, 

 of which the broad-leaved species (Kalmia latifolia) is a danger- 

 ous as the narrow leaved species. Some of the huckleberry 

 tribe are fatal, as well as several others. Indeed it is quite prob- 

 able that all this family of plants are alike in this respect. The 

 so-called cow-parsnip and some other plants of the Umbellifera 

 family, to which this wild parsnip belongs, are even more deadly 

 than the heaths. Some plants, really not poisonous, are injurious, 

 if not fatal, in their effects, not on account of any poisonous 

 character, but only because of their indigestibility. Such are the 

 leaves of the mangel or field beet, when grown on rich soil; the 

 common holyhock, and the common marsh mallow; so with oak 

 leaves and acorns, for these are all without any ill effects except- 

 ing when eaten in large quantities; and the symptoms are then all 

 those of acute indigestion. Acorns and other mast are really 

 valuable food, and thousands of sheep fatten on these fruits of 

 forest trees late in the year, and during the early winter months 

 without any ill effects being reserved. 



In the far West, and as far as California, the so-called loco- 

 weed (Astragalus mollismus) also known as crazyweed and some 



