DISEASES OE SHEEP. 10 



which slowl)' increases in size. The patient loses flesh an 

 becomes weak and languid, the appetite diminishes, the n 

 mination ceases entirely, and the animal suffers much froi 

 thirst. The eyes run with mucus, the gums are spongj 

 bloated and bleed easily, the belly swells up on account o 

 the water which collects in it. The animal wastes away t 

 a mere skeleton, lies down constantly, has an offensive diai 

 rhoea, and finally dies. The duration of the disease varies 

 Sometimes it lasts only eight or ten weeks, and sometime 

 a whole year elapses before death puts an end to the su; 

 fering. 



In the dead body much water is found under the skir 

 and generally in the pericardium and in the belly. Th 

 blood is pale, thin and watery, and all the viscera, especiall 

 the heart, are pale and flabby. 



The rot is produced by many causes, some of which, how 

 ever, have not been as yet sufficiently investigated. It j 

 most common in wet years, and is caused by vitiated fooi 

 or grazing on marshy, sour meadows. After very wet sum 

 mers, the rot generally appears late in autumn, continue 

 during winter and spring, and sometimes destroys whol 

 flocks in the following summer. Marshy meadows seem t 

 be much less injurious in spring than in the fall. It ma; 

 be taken for granted that different injurious influence 

 acting together are required in order to produce the rot. 



The cure of rot rarely succeeds, and can only be expecte( 

 when the disease is not too far advanced. The preventioi 

 is therefore of much greater importance. All the; abp-^e 

 mentioned injurious influences should be avoided, the ani 

 mals kept away from low, marshy and moist pas^tupe 

 grounds, and should receive good, wholesome food, es 

 pecially hay, etc., when, in the stable. Particular car 

 must be exercised in wet years. The sheep should be kep 

 in the stable during rainy and foggy weather, and shouh 



