154 DISEASES OF THE BEAIX AND NEKVOUS SYSTEM. 



among sheep in the early spring and late fall, when they are 

 thriving well and in good condition. 



Symptoms. 



The sheep being apparently in good health suddenly throws 

 up its head, staggers, looks wild, champs its jaws, and froths at 

 the mouth, runs round a few times, then falls, convulsions en- 

 sue, the movements of the limbs become rigid, the sheep becom- 

 ing totally insensible. The fit may last a minute or two, then 

 consciousness returns. The animal rises with a dazed look, 

 gradually getting all right and commencing again to feed, as if 

 nothing had occurred. 



Creatment. 



If due to hoar-frost on the grass, keep animals confined till 

 it has disappeared before allowing them to graze. If due to 

 worms, treat for the same as prescribed in the chapter on worm 

 diseases. 



General treatment consists in affording hygenic surround- 

 ings, paying particular attention to the feeding, seeing that 

 stimulating and fattening foods are fed sparingly. Mark the 

 animals in the flock subject to epilepsy and sell them for 

 slaughter. Do not breed from animals subject to the disease. 

 Xever in any case set a dog on a sheep suffering from an epileptic 

 fit to drive the fit away, as is sometimes brutally done. 



Bydroccpbalus, or CClatcr on the Brain. 



Hydrocephalus, water on the brain, dropsy of the brain, 

 usually due, always in the adult, to a serous collection in the 

 ventricles of the brain. The lamb is particularly subject to this 

 complaint, and as it sometimes exists prior to birth, the size of 

 the head prevents delivery. When found occurring in the 

 foetus (unborn lamb) it is 3ue to some congenital taint, which 

 interferes with the proper development of the foetus. 



