CHAPTER XVI 



CARE OF THE HEALTH OF GOATS 



General Rules. — Of all domestic animals goats are 

 probably the hardiest and the most resistant to disease. 

 If they are properly cared for and properly fed there 

 will be little use for this chapter on sick animals. Warm, 

 comfortable houses, open to the sun and kept scrupu- 

 lously dry and clean, abundant and proper food, and 

 plenty of exercise — these are the weapons with which to 

 fight disease, not medicines. Nevertheless, ignorance or 

 accidents or conditions beyond our control may some- 

 times lead to sickness, and for such emergencies a few 

 suggestions may prove useful. 



Equipment for the Care of Sick Animals. — In al- 

 most every kind of sickness it is better to isolate the ani- 

 mal as far as possible. Therefore, every herd should be 

 provided with a " hospital," no different from the other 

 goat houses except that it must be even more carefully 

 planned to provide warmth, sun, a dry floor, and ventir 

 lation without draft. A goat's body temperature is 

 rather high normally, but seems to be quickly affected 

 by sickness, so that warmth and a quiet place are the first 

 essentials to recovery. The goat keeper should be pro- 



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