346 DISEASES OF THE NEWLY-BOEN. 



The cause must diligently be sought for and removed if possible. 

 For instance, if the season has been wet and cold it is well to sub- 

 stitute at once dry food and to move the flock to high groiiud 

 where the herbage is shorter and less succulent. Ewes which 

 have been subjected to excitement and fear, and show signs of 

 abortion, should be placed in quiet quarters and given some nerve 

 sedative, such as chloroform, opium, or viburnum prunifnlium 

 (the black cohosh which is given with very satisfactory results 

 in these conditions), and can be given in teaspoonful doses in 

 the form of the fluid extract, or an infusion of the crude drug 

 can be made and two ounces given to such of the ewes as mani- 

 fest symptoms of abortion. 



In all cases of abortion, whether due to infection or other 

 causes, the dead foetus and its membranes should at once be de- 

 stroyed, and not left in the pasture where other pregnant females 

 may come in contact with them. The flock-owner must exhibit 

 great caution and should on no account handle any other healthy 

 members of the flock after attending to an ewe during abortion, 

 as he can readily carry the infection, which is liable to spread 

 like wild-fire through the whole ewe flock. 



Following abortion in ewes where the foetal membranes are 

 retained the following will, as a rule, cause their expulsion. 



Take. Laurel berries, powdered 2 ounces 



Fennel, powdered , . . 1 ounce 



Bi-carbonate of soda 2 ounces 



Infuse in two quarts of water, giving eight ounces as one 

 dose, repeating in six hours time if necessary. This mixture is 

 highly recommended by Zundel, who claims that it proves 

 cfficaciolis in nearly every instance. 



In small flocks of ewes where infectious abortion i? to bs 

 feared wash the vulva and base of the tail with an antiseptic 

 solution sneh as a five per cent, watery solution of carbolic acid. 

 This is an effectual preventive. In these cases it is well to in- 



