294 Sheep-Farming 



the lid will take a normal position, and the irritated 

 eye recover. 



Pink eye. — Sheep suffer from infectious sore eyes 

 similar to an infection of horses and cattle. Whether 

 it is communicable from one species to another is not 

 yet determined. Most cases yield to mild antiseptic 

 washes, such as one per cent solutions of the coal-tar 

 antiseptics. Affected animals should be kept con- 

 fined in dark stables, and away from other sheep, so 

 as to prevent the spread of the ailment. Care should 

 be taken also not to feed the affected animals dusty 

 hay, as the dust would aggravate the inflammation. 

 Burned alum blown into the eye is an effective remedy 

 when the ailment has advanced to a stage where a 

 film covers the eye. 



Goiter. — This is an enlargement of the thyroid 

 gland. It is a result of improper feeding of the dam. 

 There is no remedial treatment except a surgical 

 removal of the gland. More skill and technical 

 knowledge than the average flockmaster has is 

 necessary for the operation. Lambs so affected 

 should be sent to market as early as they can be fitted, 

 as in the vast majority of cases the goiter enlarges 

 with advancing age. To prevent its appearance, 

 pregnant ewes should have plenty of outdoor exercise 

 and be fed a well-balanced ration. 



External parasites. — The external parasites from 

 which sheep suffer annoyance are ticks, lice, scab 

 mites, and maggots of the blowfly. 



