354 Veterinary Medicine. 



peritoneum, liver, spleen and kidneys, with, at times, nodular 

 foci. In certain cases congestions and effusions have been found 

 on the piamater and arachnoid, in the cerebral ventricles and the 

 brain substance. 



Prognosis. Mortality. Mortality varies much with the severity 

 of the special outbreak and the conditions of life, favorable or 

 otherwise, in which the flock is placed. In the milder forms 

 the mortality may not exceed seven per cent, while in the more 

 violent the whole flock almost may perish. A fatality of 20 to 

 30 per cent is the general average. Yet the inoculated form kills 

 but 2 per cent. 



If at the outset there is great weakness and prostration, com- 

 plete anorexia and high fever, the prospect is discouraging. If 

 the fever is moderate and strength and appetite retained, the case 

 is very hopeful. On its first advent into a new country it 

 causes a far greater mortality than after it has been long domiciled 

 there, and frequent outbreaks have killed off the more susceptible 

 strains of blood. Again very hot weather, or, still more, the 

 prevalence of cold, drenching rains aggravates an outbreak 

 and greatly encreases the fatality. 



The loss is not to be measured by the deaths alone. The 

 failure of the crop of lambs, through abortion, the shedding of 

 wool, the loss of sight, hearing, hoofs, digits, flesh, stamina, etc, 

 render recovery far from desirable, in the worst cases, as the 

 animal fails to thrive or pay for its keep. On the contrary it is 

 immune from any future attack, and if left in a thrifty condition 

 it becomes especially valuable in a district where sheeppox 

 prevails. 



Treatment. Once established in the system the disease will 

 follow its regular course, through all its stages. Yet we can, by 

 dieting, pure air, cleanliness, shelter and even by medicinal 

 measures, do much to render that course a safe one. Cool sheds, 

 pure air, clean floor, dry clean litter and shelter from rain are 

 above all important. The sheep may be separated in different 

 enclosures in small lots of 5 or 6 to prevent crowding, heating, 

 and excitement, and in any ca.se the infected should be removed 

 from the noninfected, and even from each other to avoid infec- 

 tion and reinfection. This is especially requisite in hot weather. 



For the strong and vigorous, a diet of .sliced roots and meal 



