RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 201 



dead animal contain an excessive amount of serum. The muscle 

 tissue appears normal in most parts of the body except the head. 



TREATMENT 



Different medicinal substances were experimented with on 

 afifected sheep with the view of finding some specific that might 

 overcome the trouble. The substances that do the animals most 

 good are emollients, such as vaseline or olive oil, applied to the 

 head. Whenever afifected sheep have absolute rest and some pro- 

 tection from the direct rays of the sun and their heads are smeared 

 with emollients they recover in a short time, while those that are 

 not treated in this manner but are driven indefinitely without these 

 precautions, become severely afifected, many of them dying as a 

 result. 



The malady is prevented by handling sheep properly, not driv- 

 ing them too far or too fast on the trail during the heat, especially 

 before shearing in the spring. 



Sheepmen should not become excited when bighead develops 

 in their flocks and cause the herders to rush the sheep over the 

 ground, as they do where poisonous plants exist. Keep the animals 

 cool so far as possible, and many great losses can be prevented. 



SORE EYES 

 (Conjunctivitis, Ophthalmia, the Blinds) 



CAUSE 



Disorders of the eye may arise from a number of causes. 

 Inflammation may follow injuries, or inclusions of dust, seeds, pol- 

 len, etc., or may accompany other diseases, such as catarrh. At 

 times inflammation of the eye becomes prevalent in a particular 

 district or region. 



SYMPTOMS 



The eye is kept closed, especially when exposed to light. Tears 

 flow freely. At first the discharge is watery, but later it may 

 become purulent. The eye membranes are swollen and red. The 



