DISEASES OF SHEEP. 101 



ppetite to a greater or less, extent, and have a sad appear- 

 nce. The thirst increases, as does also the heat of the 

 ody. The skin of the head, eyes and mouth is redder 

 lan usual and swollen. In a short time little blisters, 

 lied with a clear liquid, make their appearance on dif- 

 srent parts of the head. Their skin then bursts and 

 ae contained liquid flows out, forming a crust or scab, 

 'hich dries and falls off. Generally the complaint heals 

 naided, but sometimes the blisters change to chronic run- 

 ing ulcers, which heal only after several weeks, and may 

 ecome so malignant as to cause the death of the animals, 

 f wild fire has once been present, it always has a tendency 

 3 return. 



It almost exclusively selects the nobler races and full- 

 lood sheep for its victims, and appears to be caused by the 

 idden change of air and light. The opinion of some that 

 , may be produced by poor, vitiated food has not yet been 

 roved. To effect a cure the blisters are cut open with a 

 jissors or a sharp knife, the liquid pressed out, and the skin 

 loistened with a mixture of one ounce of a solution of acetate 

 f lead and two ounces of olive or linseed oil, two or three 

 mes a day. If the head be much swolleo,^ one or more 

 'oolen strings (setons) may be drawn through the skin over 

 le sub-maxillary glands and allowed to remain for one or 

 ivo weeks. If ulcers have already formed, they are duly 

 loistened several times with a solution of one ounce of 

 hloride of lime or blue vitriol (sulphate of copper) in a 

 int of water. 



The sheep is kept in the stable during treatment, fed with 

 apious, nutritious food, and receives, if necessary, a salt- 

 ck mixed with sulphur and juniper-berries from time to 

 me. 

 9 * 



