190 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 



In adults it may be due to defective peristaltic motion, caused 

 by impaired nerve force, the result being a deficiency of mucus 

 in the bowels, so retarding the onward passage of the faeces. 



Crcatmcnt. 

 For adult sheep administer at once a rectal injection of soap 

 and water or warm linseed oil, or better still glycerine, and in- 

 ternally give : 



Barbadoes aloes ^ ounce 



Tincture of ginger 1 drachm 



Linseed oil 6 ounces 



Mix. Give as one dose. For lambs the best agent to admin- 

 ister is an animal fat, such as lard, three or four tablespoonfuls of 

 warm hog's lard is to be highly recommended, and should this be 

 slow in acting, give a rectal injection of warm milk, to which 

 sufficient molasses has been added to make it a chocolate color. 

 The best way to give this is to suspend the lamb by the hind 

 legs, the syringe is then inserted, the animal held up for a brief 

 period, and then set free — the results should be prompt. The 

 newly born lamb is best treated through the medium of its dam. 

 To effect this give the ewe the cathartic drench above prescribed. 

 In cases where the rectum of the young animal is obstructed 

 with hardened faecal matter, it should be removed with the 

 fingers and a small injection of oil given. This will soften the 

 mucous surface which might be injured during the extraction 

 of the mass. 



Imperforate Hnus. 



Is a condition sometimes seen affecting the newly born, the 

 rectum having no communication with the outside. Sometimes 

 the rectum can be felt underneath the skin, in which event a 

 surgical operation may be successful. In any event, should this 

 condition not be righted, death would soon take place from the 

 absorption of efl^ete material. 



