DISEASES OF THE NEWLY-BOEN. 345 



not called foi' or been made tlie subject of special investigation, 

 it must not be construed that the trouble does not affect them, 

 but rather that the damage to the ewe flock from this disease has 

 not yet been properly recognized, or assumed such proportions as 

 it has among dairy cows. Abortion resulting from whatever 

 causes manifests certain jaremonitory symptoms which will at 

 once be noticed by the careful shepherd and place him on his 

 guard to prevent the trouble if possible. 



Symptoms. 



The first noticeable symptom will be dullness and refusal to 

 feed; the ewe bleats frequently and appears very uneasy. 

 Should these first premonitory symptoms pass unnoticed, no 

 effort being made to alleviate them by proper treatment, all the 

 signs become aggravated, labor pains set in; and in the course of 

 from six to twelve hours abortion takes place. Cases of abortion 

 arising from accident, fear or improper food, etc., are usually 

 manifested by the premonitory signs already described; while in 

 cases due to infection there is apparently little if any warning. 

 The ewe is suddenly seized with labor pains, delivery shortly fol- 

 lowing. 



Abortion in ewes is very liable to be followed by inversion 

 of the uterus or vagina, or both. Where the foetus is dead be- 

 fore delivery, the placenta is very liable to precede its expulsion, 

 and in these cases inversion of the uterus is frequently met with. 

 In cases of abortion due to infection from septic material, the 

 foetus is generally born dead, the foetal membranes showing 

 mrrked evidence of being diseased. 



Crcatmcnt. 



This is both preventive and curative. When abortion oc- 

 curs in a flock of ewes and several are affected, it is always proper 

 to move the flock to fresh pastures, being careful to separate the 

 ewes which have alreadv aborted from the balance of the fluck. 



