208 DISEASES OF METABOLISM 



hygienic and dietary conditions are not changed the result is 

 fatal. 



Treatment. — If taken early and before pronounced symp- 

 toms of emaciation appear, a change in the food and stable 

 arrangement usually suffices to cure. The cattle should be 

 turned out on pasture if the season permits. If not, the light, 

 ventilation and dampness of the stable should be corrected 

 and a good, well balanced ration fed. Much recommended is 

 apomorphin (grs. ij-iij) three times daily for three days in 

 succession but in some outbreaks it has not given results. 



Prevention. — Keeping the cattle out of doors especially on 

 well drained pastures and preventing their eating food which 

 is spoiled will avert the disease. 



WOOL EATING. 



Definition. — ^Wool eating is a perversion of the appetite of 

 sheep which causes them to eat each other's wool. 



Occurrence. — ^Wool eating is observed among the finer 

 breeds of sheep when in winter quarters. As it causes loss of 

 wool and a formation of wool balls in the stomach, which may 

 lead to death, it attains economic importance. 



Etiology. — ^Wool eating is chiefly due to foods deficient in 

 nutritive material. Idleness and habit are no doubt predis- 

 posing factors. 



Symptoms. — In a flock of sheep one or two of the lambs 

 begin nibbling the wool of their mothers, preferably wool 

 which is stained with manure and urine. Soon other lambs 

 and finally the adult sheep take up the habit. Usually one 

 sheep of the flock is chosen to furnish the wool until the supply 

 from this source is exhausted when a new sheep is selected. 

 Ultimately nearly all of the members of the flock become wool 

 eaters. Ordinarily the sheep remain healthy although once 

 in a while lambs die from an occlusion of the stomach openings 

 or intestine. 



Diagnosis. — ^The disease is easily recognized and differenti- 

 ated from itchy skin diseases and the "trotter disease" by 

 the fact that the sheep do not gnaw their own fleeces, and the 

 absence of skin lesions. 



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