THE MORE COMMON AILMENTS OF SHEEP 409 



affected parts may become inflamed and the animal may 

 die. 



The preventive measures are all important. They in- 

 clude the feeding of dry and succulent foods in due bal- 

 ance, and avoiding the feeding of the same when injured 

 by frost. When it occurs in lambs, the milk of a cow or 

 of a foster mother, which is frequently the aggravating 

 cause, may be improved by adding limewater to make it 

 conform more nearly to the constituents natural to the 

 young lamb. 



For treatment such mild remedies as ginger, pepper- 

 mint and warm gruel may suffice. In other instances a 

 cathartic may be necessary. A popular remedy consists 

 of one dram of laudanum and one of powdered ginger 

 for a mature sheep, administered in flaxseed tea. 



Stretches and treatment — When sheep are main- 

 tained for a long period on heavy and dry rations the 

 trouble popularly known as "stretches" is very liable to 

 occur, more especially when constipation has been pres- 

 ent for a considerable period. The indications of 

 stretches include the sudden lying down of the sheep 

 and stretching out at full length. It is rarely met 

 with in a flock in which suitable food has been 

 provided. Clearly, it is the outcome of unsuitable 

 dieting, resulting in impaction. It is rarely met with in 

 a flock to which roots are freely fed. The cause being 

 known, the preventive measures are easy. They include 

 the feeding of such foods as will ward off constipation. 

 These include field roots, oilcake and some such food as 

 corn ensilage, although the latter is not equal to field 

 roots in warding off the disease. 



For treatment, melted lard has been recommended. 

 The dose for an adult sheep is about one-quarter of a 

 pound. When administering the lard a drenching bottle 

 or a tablespoon may be used. For lambs the following 

 has been found very helpful : Four ounces of epsom salts, 

 two tablespoonfuls of molasses and a heaping teaspoonful 



