THE SHEEP AND ITS DISEASES. 805 
but not to man. It is of two kinds: the mild, in which the pustules are 
few, and remain distinct; the malignant, or “confluent,” in which the 
pustules are many, irregular in outline, running into each other, rapid in their - 
action, and generally fatal. 
Symptoms.—In about a week from the time the infection occurs the 
animal leaves the flock, is dull and listless, with quick breath, rapid, short 
pulse, swollen eyelids and red membrane of the eyeball. Later, small, red, 
inflamed pimples are found in the skin where there is no wool, which 
rapidly increase in number and extend to all parts, but especially to the 
inner side of the thighs, the anus, the adjoining bare spots, the lips and the 
mouth; these then grow larger and appear as pustules, the system generally 
becoming disturbed, the thirst great, pulse tremulous, appetite impaired, cud 
lost, bowels inactive, or sometimes loose. In perhaps a week the center of 
the eruptions is transparent and elevated and filled with a fluid, at first 
clear, then turbid; the pustule now takes on a yellowish, opaque appear- 
ance, is generally flattened, the skin around it becoming pale; the pustule 
then dries. If the scabs or eruptions be rubbed off or broken, the healing 
will be slow. In ordinary cases the eruptions last sixteen or eighteen days, 
from their appearance to the natural falling of the scabs; then the animal, 
in favorable cases, recovers. In the “confluent” form the fever is very 
severe, becoming typhoid in character; pulse rapid and strong at first, then 
weak and tremulous; quick and offensive breath; blood-shot eyes; swollen 
eyelids; mucous membranes blue and congested; great pain in the back 
and limbs; intense thirst; offensive smell from the skin; the wool falls off 
in patches, or readily comes off with the hand. The pustules run to- 
gether, forming a mass of rotten matter and ulcers; the face becomes dis- 
gusting, with swollen nose; yellowish discharge from the nose and mouth, 
pustules in the nasal cavities, and even back to or beyond the throat; great 
tenderness generally; prostration; diarrhea; death in eight or nine days 
from the appearance of the eruptions. 
TREATMENT.—lIsolate infected animals to prevent the spread of the 
malady and do not return them until all scabs have disappeared, Keep the 
eyes, mouth and nostrils well cleansed with a weak dilution of carbolic acid. 
Keep rock-salt in reach of the sick and the well, and add a little vinegar 
to the water. Cool, dry, well-aired sheds, with comfortable bedding 
and protection from rains, should be provided. Give gruels of oatmeal or 
bran, and a drachm of saltpetre to each affected sheep, but avoid heat- 
producing foods in the main. Such local applications may be used for the 
pustules as were mentioned for Cow-Pox. Antimonium tartaricum should 
be given as soon as the disease is certainly known to exist, and a is also 
very useful in the eruptive stages. For much ulceration, offensive smell 
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