328 CONSUMPTION. 



investing membranes, and in the substance of which there are 

 not numerous minute concretions — tubercles. 



" Perhaps these lesions quickly follow sub-acute inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs, but they do not rapidly increase afterwards. 

 Their existence produces a slight cough which scarcely 

 interferes with health. * * * But what is the case, and 

 that not unfrequently, with the ram and the ewe when they 

 get three or four years old ? The cough continues — it 

 increases — a pallidness of the lips, or of the conjunctiva, is 

 observed — a gradual loss of flesh — an occasional or constant 

 diarrhea, which yields for a while to proper medicine, but 

 returns again and again until it wears the animal away. Of 

 how many diseases is this cough and gradual wasting the 

 termination ? It is the frequent winding up of turnsick ; it is 

 the companion and child of rot. 



"This disease is especially prevalent in low and moist 

 pastures, and it is of most frequent occurrence in spring and 

 in autumn, and when the weather at those seasons is unusu- 

 ally cold and changeable. It is almost useless to enter into 

 the consideration of treatment. It would consist in a change 

 to dry and wholesome and somewhat abundant pasture — the 

 placing of salt within the reach of the animal, and, if he was 

 valued, the administration of the hydriodate of potash, in 

 doses of three grains, morning and night, and gradually 

 increasing the dose to twelve grains. With regard, however, 

 to the common run of sheep-— when wasting has commenced, 

 and is accompanied by cough or dysentery, the most honest, 

 and profitable advice which the surgeon could give to the 

 farmer would be, to send the animal to the butcher while the 

 carcass will readily sell." 



Some Arnerican writers appear to think they have 

 recognized this disease among the sheep of our country. 

 Consumption is considered distinctly hereditary in almost aU 

 domestic animals. 



