200 RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 



jects in its path. In that condition some of the sheep wander away 

 from the flock and are lost, either dying as a result of exhaustion and 

 starvation or becoming a prey to wild animals. 



If the animal is watched after the jerking of the head begins, 

 one can see the ears turn red and enlarge. At about the same time 

 the cheeks show congested appearance. Ears and cheeks continue 

 to enlarge to enormous proportions, the ears drooping as a result 

 of their weight. After the swellings are about complete, small 

 drops of serum of a light-yellow color begin to exude from them. 

 The entire face becomes so swollen as to close the eyes, and in some 

 cases the internal pressure of the serum forces the eyeballs out of 

 their sockets. Fever is always present and shows itself early, the 

 temperature ranging from 104° to 107° F. In the severe forms this 

 occurs in from 30 minutes to one hour. The vision being obstructed, 

 the animal can not see its feed and the lips, checks and tongue are 

 so badly congested that the eating is impossible. In many cases 

 the tongue fills the mouth entirely. In some cases there is a dis- 

 turbance of the breatliing due to pressure on the trachea and inflam- 

 mation of the air passages. To some extent this may be due to 

 excitement, and when in that condition the sheep, if allowed to, will 

 continue to chase around until completely exhausted and will then 

 lie down, usually never to rise. Others that are only slightly 

 affected may recover. The skin often cracks or peels off the sw^elled 

 areas and many animals lose the wool over the entire body. Sheep 

 (mce affected are never as good as formerly, as they become un- 

 thrifty. Many of the ewes that carry lambs lose them. 



POSTMORTEM APPEARANCE 



Sheep killed during the early stages of the disease show 

 petechiae (purplish spots) in the nostrils and all tissues of the head, 

 trachea and lungs. There is an accumulation of serous or jellylike 

 fluid around the eyes, in the cheeks, between the ears, below the 

 jaws, and under the muc(nis membrane of the mouth and tongue. 



When sheep die as a result of this condition, the jelly-like 

 material is found in different parts (jf the body under the mucous 

 and serous membranes and in some of the muscles. There are often 

 small hemorrhagic spots along the intestinal tract and around the 

 kidneys. There is a congestion and thickening of the walls of the 

 lymphatics, with a swelling of the lymph glands. The blood circu- 

 lation of the head in many instances is nearly shut off' by the pres- 

 sure of the swolKn Cdndition. The braiti anfl s])inal cord of the 



