CHAPTER XX 



DISEASES OF SHEEP 



The common diseases of sheep are not numerous, but they 

 are mostly incurable. This is particularly true of the ravages 

 of internal parasites. Prevention is better than cure. There 

 seems to be no good reason why nearly every contagious and 

 infectious disease to which sheep are subject cannot be eradi- 

 cated in two or three years with proper precautions, yet these 

 diseases result in nine-tenths of the failures in this country. It 

 seems that farmers cannot realize that diseases so easy to prevent 

 will work such destruction once they break out in the flock. In 

 this Manual much has been made of the importance of dipping 

 all sheep immediately upon their arrival at the farm and thus 

 preventing an outbreak of any kind of external parasites ; also 

 of the absolute importance of frequent changes in pastures, es- • 

 pecially with the lambs, in order to prevent internal parasites. 

 In addition, there are the hygienic conditions, such as proper 

 shelter and dry lots, that must receive careful attention. 



TREATING SICK SHEEP 



Sick sheep should be removed from the flock at once, not only 

 that they may receive extra care and attention, but to prevent a 

 spread of the ailment in case the disease should prove contagious. 

 The sick animal should be removed to comfortable quarters and 

 given the benefit of good care, for in many cases good care is 

 to be preferred to medicine. The food should be given careful 

 consideration. The general management, the food, and the 

 methods of administrating medicine should be much the same 



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