576 Diseases occurring after Parturition in Cows and Sheep. 



ewe is not much distressed at the onset, two ounces of Epsom 

 sahs, with two drams of laudanum, will form the proper medi- 

 cine, gruel being: supplied to her occasionally. When the ewe 

 appears to be recovering she should be shut up in a house for 

 several days, and, if her lamb be alive, it should be returned to 

 her : but if it be dead, and there is no substitute lamb for her, 

 the udder should be drawn with the hand for a few days. The 

 genitals may be dressed occasionally with the digestive, or, if 

 much fetor is present with sloughing, the solution of chlorinated 

 lime may be used. Any lesions of the labia had better be drawn 

 together by suture, although, if they are not very extensive, they 

 usually heal without much deformity. Another and more pure 

 form of hysteritis, although not so frequent as the foregoing, will 

 make its appearance in two or three days after parturition. The 

 ewe is attacked with after-pains and straining, consequent either 

 upon exposure to inclement weather, or from the determination 

 of the accompanying fever of parturition in a local form to the 

 uterus. In the first stages of this complaint the nose is hot and 

 dry, the breathing but little accelerated, the udder is hot, swollen, 

 and tender, the labia are everted and of a scarlet hue, she moves 

 restlessly about and ceases to graze; she is annoyed by the 

 attempts of her lamb to suck, and kicks it away. The symptoms 

 enumerated in the other variety of the disease now rapidly set 

 in, or, from contiguity, the peritoneum, or membrane lining the 

 cavity of the belly, and clothing the womb, becomes inflamed, 

 fluid is effused into the cavity of the belly, she seldom rises 

 unless disturbed, her breathing is heavy, and she appears dull 

 and depressed, death ensuing in two or three days. In many 

 parts of the country this affection is known by the name of 

 redwater, from the colour of the fluid found upon opening the 

 body. The treatment at the commencement of this complaint 

 must be bloodletting ; from four to eight ounces, if so much can 

 be obtained, should be abstracted from the facial vein. There 

 are few shepherds but can perform this operation, but there 

 are still fewer who take any care as to the quantity of blood 

 abstracted ; the vein being opened, the animal is at once released, 

 and may bleed either more or less, depending upon the opera- 

 tion having been effectually performed or other circumstances. 

 This should not be the plan of procedure. When the vein is 

 made visible, by pressure over the angle of the lower jaw-bone, 

 the opening should be made with a lancet in an oblique direction 

 into the vein, the blade of the lancet being of tolerable size (the 

 shepherd uses his knife, and cuts generally right down to the 

 bone) : this will allow the blood to flow more freely than if the 

 opening be made longitudinally, in a direction with the course of 

 the vein ; the sheep should be held, pressure being still applied 



