48 DISEASES OF SHEEP, 



observed in all cases where the disease is known to prevail 

 in distant localities, whereby infection may happen sooner 

 or later. As soon as it is known that the pox prevails 

 among a herd, each separate animal has to be carefully 

 examined by laying it upon its back and examining the 

 bare parts of the shanks, of the belly, the breast, and also 

 the face, especially the lips and eyes. In the beginning of 

 the disease the pox are scarcely visible, and therefore the lips 

 of the animal must be gently touched or rubbed with the 

 finger to detect any knotty and rugged protuberances, 

 which, when they are sensible to pressure, represent the 

 pox. All infected sheep should be separated from the 

 others and taken to very distant localities. If, however, a , 

 large part of the herd is found to be diseased, it is advisa- 

 ble to keep the infected animals in their usual place or 

 stable, which is now considered to be also infected, and to 

 remove the healthy to other localities. In case of infection 

 of only a few animals, and when the disease is still in the 

 beginning, the spread of the disease may possibly be pre- 

 vented, but such cases are very rare and unreliable. The 

 aforesaid examination is daily to be repeated ; the person 

 having the care of the diseased animals is not to be en- 

 trusted with the examination, nor to be allowed to have 

 any intercourse with the healthy part of the herd. 



The treatment of the regular or innoxious pox is very 

 simple and requires no medical attendance, it being only 

 necessary to subject the diseased sheep to a suitable and 

 careful • diet. In winter, and during cold, windy, misty or 

 rainy weather, they should be kept in the stable ; cold and 

 wet being of the most dangerous effect, the sheep being 

 very sensible to such influences, notwithstanding the thick- 

 ness of their fleece, and especially when the tender skin is 

 inflamed and swollen from pox. The stable in Which the 

 sick animals are kept must be spacious and warm and pro- 



