DISEASES OF SHEEP. 353 



From the nature of the alkaloid existing in the crazyweed of the 

 Western plains, it is we think beyond question that this same 

 treatment will be useful as an antidote to the effects of this 

 weed. 



The leaves of the yew tree are exceedingly deadly in their 

 effects, and while we have none of this kind among our native 

 trees, yet in other countries, where it is cultivated or grown in 

 hedges, or indeed for hedges, sheep should not be permitted to 

 browse on them or eat the clippings of the limbs. 



Cases of poisoning sometimes occur by giving too large doses 

 of drugs, the action of which is virulent. Thus the use of salt- 

 peter (nitrate of potash in excess; in truth it is rarely called 

 for) is apt to do serious injury. So aconite, a deadly poison in 

 too large doses, but a useful remedy in many diseases as a seda- 

 tive and diaphoretic, allaying nervous excitement and inducing 

 perspiration, may be given to excess, carelessly, on account of the 

 very small doses required, for a sheep, no more than 3 to 5 drops. 

 In such cases immediate ridding to the system of the poison, by 

 copious liquid purgatives, is the simplest means of avoiding loss. 

 After recovery the tonic mixture should be used, with soft 

 mashes or gruels of linseed or oatmeal, or both. When any 

 poison is accidentally taken by sheep it will be useful to drench 

 the animal with mucilaginous liquid by which the stomach may be 

 washed out, and immediately after a dose of castor oil or raw lin- 

 seed oil may be given to empty the stomach and bowels. 



PORCUPINE GRASS. 



This grass is quite common on the plains and has been found 

 exceedingly injurious to sheep. It is a tall grass with a bunch of 

 sharp pointed, speared awns in the head. These have a very 

 peculiar character. They are twisted when dry like a corkscrew 

 and as they become damp the screw unwinds, becoming more sp' - 1 ! 

 as the weather dries them again. The sharp points penetrate the 

 wool and as this spiral unwinds and winds again these points are 

 literally screwed into the sheep's skin, penetrating into the flesh 

 and even passing into the inside where of course these spears 

 do serious mischief, frequently killing the sheep with all the symp- 

 toms of a slow, wasting disease, which is rarely recognized. This 

 of course calls for a corresponding watchfulness on the part of 

 the shepherd to keep the flocks away from those localities where 

 it abounds. When the grass is in flower it is much like an ostrich 

 feather with its soft, silky plumes, under which these awns are to 

 be found. 



RED WATER-HAEMATURIA. 



This is a disease distinctly of marshes and wood lands, of 

 which the herbage is often acrid and indigestible. There are 

 certain weeds by which this disorder is produced, but in general, 

 either the whole herbage is innutritions or unwholesome, or the 

 poiso>nous emanations from the sodden soil makes the blood im- 

 pure at the very source the lungs where it should naturally be 



