902 DISEASES OF SHEEP. 



mucous membranes, weakness, especially of the hind legs, trembling, 

 surface coldness, staring coat, dry and hot mouth and horns, and 

 diminution of the milk, which is watery and frothy, with loss of 

 appetite, great thirst, weak pulse, and ' often colicky pains. Later, 

 the urine becomes bloody,' and a more or less bloody discharge may 

 come from the nostrils. The use of salt is strongly recommended 

 as a preventive. If there be ho abdominal pain, ordinary purga- 

 tives may be used, but with colic, sweet-oil and other mild materials 

 should be employed in preference. The diet should consist of lin- 

 seed decoctions, bran mashes, etc., with iron tonics, and wine or 

 whisky. 



Ictero-Verminous Cachexia, or Rot Dropsy. — This affec- 

 tion is common enough in some countries where sheep are kept on 

 low pastures,, marshy lands, in a damp atmosphere, or in fields which 

 have been overflowed, or fed on watery food. The > scientists at 

 present attribute this disease to a liver-worm — the distdma — 

 which is always fourtd in that organ during this malady. In the 

 muscular tissues may also be found smaller animalcules named 

 psorospermies. The symptoms are pallor of the skin and mucous 

 membranes ; soon these become even yellowish. But before that is 

 visible, the disease has sometimes made considerable progress. The 

 animal loses its vigor and vivacity ; it languishes, and walks slowly, 

 and behind the flock ; thirst augments, and appetite diminishes ; 

 rumination, or chewing, is troubled ; the belly is swelled ; the body 

 seems to fatten on account of the watery deposit that takes place in 

 the tissues beneath the skin, etc. ; the vertebral column is painful to 

 pressure; the urine is scant ; weakness gradually augments, until 

 finally the patient does not resist the pulling of its hind legs, and 

 falls down ; easily. Death generally ensues. Give good food, iron 

 and bitter tonics, with alcoholic stimulants, and place the animal 

 on dry pasture or in a dry stable or shed. 



CONTAGIOUS, OR TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES. 



Foot-Rot, Foot-Halt, Foul, L6o, or Low, mean the same 

 affection, which is ah ulcerous inflammation of the foot of the sheep. 

 It is contagious, and supposed now to be due to a microscopic 

 parasite. - The other so-called causes, such as irritant soils, damp 

 pastures, foul yards, etc., are perhaps indirectly, concerned in pro- 

 ducing this affection, from the fact that they probably constitute 

 favorable grounds for the harboring of the parasites, and the^n their 

 special irritative properties increase the disease. But all this is not 

 proved. The first symptpm is a slight lameness, which gradually 



