22 



Management of Sheep. 



During this disease care should be taken not to pull the wool, 

 as it frequently falls off: a change of pasture, and not run too 

 thick, is the best preventive. I have also found either of the 

 following receipts to stay its ravages when given in time : they 

 may be adopted, when parties reject the hot-water plan, with 

 equal success : — 



No. 1. 



4 Tablespoonfuls of common salt, 

 1 Teaspoonful of turpentine, 



Mixed with a little water, and repeated in a milder dose when 

 necessary. 



No. 2. 



1 Teaspoonful of laudanum, 



1 Tablespoonful of either gin or rum, 



Well mixed and given ; repeat the dose if necessary, or in a milder 

 form. 



No. 3. 



1 ounce of alum in half a pint of warm water. 



The above three receipts will also stay the progress of the diarrhoea 

 in lambs. 



The Scab. — This is a disease familiar to all breeders — to some 

 from the dread they have of it, and to others from its constant 

 plague. In the open fields the flocks were formerly rarely ever 

 without it from their constant intermixture, and it is a fact that 

 the open-field shepherds were careless in staying its progress, 

 from the feeling that they always have it in the field. It is known 

 to exist by the animals becoming restless, with a constant desire 

 for rubbing; when the disease has become rooted, the animal 

 itches to such a degree that it is quite violent in pulling its wool 

 &c. When taken in the early stage of the complaint, little 

 specks are noticed, which are found to contain a minute insect 

 burrowing in the skin ; then by rubbing the skin becomes fretted, 

 discharging an ichor, which hardens into crusts, and if the sheep 

 be not relieved it sinks under the accumulated miseries. This 

 disease is exceedingly infectious, but is never observed or known 

 to arise spontaneously in a flock. When first discovered the 

 whole flock should be carefully inspected, and the diseased sub- 

 jects removed to a separate field; it is best to give the whole 

 flock a slight dressing, as a preventive; no fear need be en- 

 tertained in dressing the inlambed ewes, as I have had occasion to 

 practise it at different periods, and have experienced no ill effects, 

 observing not to dress the belly or points. The mercurial oint- 

 ment in common use, prepared by all druggists, is found to be 

 sufficiently good, without resorting to other receipts: when 

 ordered, the party should take care to name that it is required for 



