SepticcBmia Hemorrhagica of the Sheep. 89 



well-fed, and, above all, kept in the open air, and changed to a 

 different pasture, tend largely to recovery. 



Prevention. The propagation of the infection from animal to 

 animal is slow and somewhat uncertain, and when introduced by 

 the purchase of a new ram or other animal, it may take a con- 

 siderable time to affect the stock extensively, but for this reason, 

 and because an apparently sound sheep may harbor the germ, it 

 is difficult to oppose it successfully by segregation. All the same, 

 it is desirable to take all possible precautions against its advent, 

 and among these, the exclusion of strange sheep from non-infected 

 pastures and flocks. When the time comes to make an outcross 

 from the home strain, the ram must be selected not only for his 

 pedigree and individual qualities, but no less for the soundness 

 of the flock from which he is taken. If the lambs of that flock 

 have been decimated by disease, the best blue blood, and most 

 faultless form should not tempt the flockmaster. The ram should be 

 rejected in favor of one taken from a flock that is above suspicion. 

 It matters little if it can be plausibly argued that the mortality 

 came from worms of the lungs, liver, or digestive organs ; these 

 in themselves may soon ruin any flock, but they, too, often co- 

 exist with the microbe of hseniorrhagic septicaemia, and, when this 

 is the case, they prepare the system and open a way for its in- 

 vasion. 



New purchases should not only be selected from apparently 

 sound and guaranteed stock, but they should be passed through 

 an antiseptic dip on arrival, and then if possible quarantined in a 

 Special enclosure until they shall have proved their freedom from 

 infection. A valuable ram may be placed with some lambs or 

 yearlings in close quarters to ascertain whether he has brought 

 theinfecting matter with him. If all escape after some months 

 the presumption is that he is sound. Perfect cleanliness of the 

 fold should be maintained, and disinfectants may be freely used 

 in it. 



The water supplies should be watched, rejecting streams that 

 have drained sheep- pastures where there have been marked losses 

 of lambs and ewes. Water from deep wells without any surface 

 leakage is to be preferred. 



When new stock (ram, ewes, lambs) are of necessity mixed 

 with the sound herd, a wide range, an open air life, and abundant 



