578 Diseases occurring after Parturition in Coivs and Sheep. 



viscus is suddenly inverted when the foetus is removed by force. 

 It should be returned immediately, and its return will be readily 

 effected ; two or three sutures of the stoutest metallic wire being 

 subsequently passed through the labia, and the ewe kept per- 

 fectly quiet. It is not always, however, retained, and if it be 

 inverted again and again as soon as returned, or in an inverted 

 state be forced against the sutures, they should be removed, and 

 a strong ligature of packthread passed around the organ as high 

 up in the vagina as possible ; it will not be so disgusting a 

 spectacle in the ewe as in the cow, nor will it occasion the ewe 

 so much inconvenience, and it will slough away more readily in 

 the course of a few days if the protruded portion be left hanging 

 from the vagina. 



Garget, or inflammation of the udder, is of frequent occurrence 

 in the ewe, but its effects are not so much to be dreaded as in the 

 cow, for the ewe is only wanted to supply sufficient milk for her 

 lamb, and it is seldom that the animal with twins is affected. 

 The only primary source of this complaint is the liability before 

 noticed of the fever always attendant upon parturition becoming 

 localised, or determined to some particular organ. The proxi- 

 mate or determining causes are, lying on wet lairs or pastures, or 

 even on dry ones when the early spring nights are frosty ; in fact, 

 a low temperature applied to the newly and highly excited organ. 

 Mechanical injuries are but very rarely the cause of the affection. 

 This usually makes its appearance within a few days after partu- 

 rition ; one-half or even the whole of the udder may be affected — 

 swollen, hot, and painful ; the lamb should be removed from her at 

 once. It will be recollected what has been noticed when treating 

 of this disease in the cow, that it is injurious to force the teats 

 much, as, when the disease is fully established, the secretion from 

 the gland is nearly suspended. These remarks will equally 

 obtain here. A dose of physic, from two to three ounces of 

 Epsom salts, with two drams of ginger to insure its purgative 

 action, should be administered. Bleeding, unless some generally 

 unfavourable symptoms, as abdominal pain or hurried breathing, 

 are present, will hardly be called for. There is not the same 

 tolerance or constitutional ability to bear disease in the ewe as in 

 the cow ; and on this account also she will be unable to bear the 

 adoption of debilitating remedial measures. Fomentations should 

 be applied to the udder twice daily, persisting in them for some 

 time ; the wool should be clipped away, and the goulard water 

 subsequently applied : the ewe must be housed and supplied with 

 some clean soft litter. It is futile to anticipate benefit will accrue 

 from remedial measures in this or any other disease if the animal 

 be still exposed to the same exciting causes ; and it is strange 

 that the flockmaster or shepherd is in general so blind to this 

 simple aid to their medical treatment. True, in many cases the 



