408 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



early part of the day for several days before they par- 

 take solely of the succulent food. When the trouble 

 comes from feeding the sheep indigestible foods or those 

 not easily digested, it is very evident that the aim should 

 be to change the diet, for no good can result from feed- 

 ing foods that irritate the digestive organs. When the 

 trouble is the outcome of exposure, it might have been 

 prevented by shielding the sheep from exposure, and such 

 shielding is usually within the power of the prudent 

 flockmaster. When the trouble results from partaking of 

 food unduly succulent, the feeding of dry fodder or grain 

 and giving the sheep access to a plentiful supply of salt 

 will be found helpful, if not, indeed, entirely efficacious. 

 Since the presence of simple diarrhea in its early stages 

 of development is simply an effort of nature to get rid of 

 irritant substances, it is well not to be too hasty in check- 

 ing it. But when prolonged, the following remedy may 

 be helpful, viz., three to five ounces of castor oil for a 

 mature sheep. Follow in due time with tincture of opium 

 one dram, powdered ginger one dram, and prepared 

 chalk 12 drams. Rations dry in character should also 

 be fed, and with due caution. 



Colic and treatment — Colic in sheep arises from 

 digestive disturbances resulting from the feeding of un- 

 suitable foods. Though closely allied to the disease 

 known as stretches, it differs from the latter in some of 

 the essential symptoms. The leading indications of colic 

 include moaning, grinding the teeth, frequent getting up 

 and lying down and striking the belly with the hind feet. 

 Lambs show these symptoms much more frequently than 

 adults as the result of errors in dieting, whereas in 

 stretches the animal frequently lays down and stretches 

 out at full length. 



Colic is caused from digestive disturbance, the out- 

 come of feeding unsuitable food. These include such ra- 

 tions as frozen rape and clover. Unless soon relieved the 



