Diseases of Sheep, 



299 



vesicle wherever situated; a disgraceful^ and generally useless, 

 mode of treatment.* 



It is probable that in a very large majority of cases where re- 

 course has been had to these violent remedies, immediate death 

 has followed, even where the vesicle has been broken. I can only 

 recommend prevention instead of surgical operation, by selecting 

 as far as possible dry and well-drained pasturage, and paying care- 

 ful attention to the choice of breeding stock. It is considered hy 

 well informed men that the disease is far less prevalent than for- 

 merly, and its decline has been attributed to the great improve- 

 ment in our agricultural system that has, under the patronage of 

 influential men, been made of late years. " Sturdy" is a name 

 often given to this disease, as well as to the last. There is no 

 question however that the two complaints are distinct, and pro- 

 ceeding from different causes, though, affecting as they both do, 

 the same organ, many of the symptoms will correspond. Some 

 degree of difference, however, is to be found in the degree of 

 rapidity with which the disorder advances. Water in the head 

 will sometimes continue for many months before it terminates 

 fatally, but the turnsick, or goggles, properly so called, will occa- 

 sionally carry off the sheep in a very few weeks. 



Apoplexy proceeds from pressure on the brain, by the sud- 

 den determination of blood to it, occasioning the rupture of some 

 blood-vessel. In sheep this generally occurs when on the road 

 to market. They are then in high condition, and often over- 

 driven beneath a sultry sun. The drover should carefully watch 

 any sheep that lags behind. If it appears stupid and uncon- 

 scious, heedless of the dog and forgetful of its companions, it 

 should be instantly and copiously bled from the neck : a prompt 

 flow of blood is indispensable in this case. Every surgeon 

 knows that the loss of the same quantity of blood taken away 

 in three minutes will have much greater effect than will be 

 produced if it is allowed to dribble Away in twice the time. If 

 the sheep is on the road to the butcher, nothing further is neces- 

 sary ; but, should it be attacked at home, the shepherd must 

 change its pasture, and keep the bowels freely open by repeated 

 doses of Epsom salts. 



This disease, when occurring at grass, the sheep being in high 

 condition and the pasturage luxuriant, is sometimes called the 



* The cruelty of such operations, even if successful, ought not to he en- 

 couraged, particularly as from the very nature of the disease the operation 

 may not produce a thorough cure ; because the origin and mode of develop- 

 ment of hydatids are involved in great obscurity; but though first formed 

 in an unknown manner, they arc capable of re producing their species, pro- 

 bably by germination, and that power is spread over the whole surface of 

 the cyst. — James Dean-. 



VOL. I. Y 



