CHAPTER III. 

 Diseases of the Abdomen. 



THE RESP, OR RED WATER. 



Symptoms. — The beginning or end of winter are the 

 times when this complaint makes its appearance. It is 

 less common in higher mountain ranges, but pretty 

 frequent in lower situations when hoar-frost, prevails. 

 Where sheep are put under cover during the night, 

 they always escape this malady, which manifests itself 

 by an inflammation of the skin, and induces blisters, 

 filled with a thin watery fluid, of a reddish colour. 

 These first appear about the breast and belly, which 

 is generally distended. After a short time they break, 

 and the matter flows from the blisters, which, when 

 fully discharged, are soon covered by a blackish scab. 

 It is a disagreeable disease, but seldom proves fatal. 

 Sheep affected with red water become melancholy, and 

 are usually seen lagging behind their fellows while 

 feeding, and may be observed poking out their heads 

 in an awkward manner, and soon afterwards a 

 discharge of saliva takes place from the mouth, and 

 accompanied by swelling of the belly. 



Causes. — Cold and wet are the chief sources of 

 this complaint, as well as many others in sheep. The 

 skin being fretted by the wet, watery blisters rise on 

 it. Sometimes, however, the animal is affected with 

 internal cold, which produces a slight febrile attack, 



