Diseases of Sheep, 



305 



The treatment of hove, or distension from gas, is very different. 

 In the first place, it must be remarked, that though hove, in its 

 aggravated form, suddenly follows an excess of fermenting food, 

 it is often a dyspeptic symptom connected with other disorders: 

 attention should therefore first be given to the general state of the 

 sheep, and especially to the abruptness of the attack. If the 

 animal has previously shown a reluctance to feed^ or general 

 dulness without any perceptible cause, or a disordered state of 

 the stomach, it may be safely assumed that the hove only indi- 

 cates the seat of some other disorder, which must first be removed, 

 and then the distension will subside. But if this distension is 

 very rapid and decided in its appearance, and if it follows imme- 

 diately upon the change from poor pasture to rich clover, the fair 

 inference is that gas has been extricated ^vithout any previous 

 derangement of the stomach from other causes ; and it must be 

 promptly discharged by puncturing the paunch. This may safely 

 be done with a proper instrument. It is usually effected by a 

 knife ; but to this there are serious objections — a larger incision is 

 made than is necessary, and when, by the expulsion of the gas, the 

 paunch is reduced in size, — the wound through its coats no longer 

 corresponding with the external orifice in the skin, — portions of 

 the food are discharged with the gas into the abdomen, and 

 remain lodged there, a permanent source of mischief. If, on the 

 other hand, the puncture is effected by an instrument called by 

 surgeons a trocar, and used by them in tapping for the drops}^, 

 the gas is entirely discharged through the external wound. The 

 trocar consists of a sort of dagger, which is sheathed, except at the 

 point, in a metal tube ; the puncture is made by the dagger Vv hen 

 thus sheathed. The trocar is then withdrawn, but the sheath 

 remams ; and through its tube a regular communication is pre- 

 served with the external orifice, notwithstanding the reducing of 

 the stomach when the extrication of gas begins to subside. Another 

 mechanical process, often adopted with success, and in some 

 respects more eligible than the trocar, is the introduction of a 

 tube into the stomach through the gullet. The tube used for this 

 purpose is made by twisting iron wire, of a very fine diameter, 

 close round a smooth iron rod, about a quarter of an inch thick, 

 that may be withdrawn at pleasure. After the frame of the tube 

 is thus made of sufficient length, it should be covered with 

 smooth leather, so as to make it air-tight, and prevent wounding 

 the gullet in passing it. The gas will discharge itself through 

 this tube, and the animal be instantly relieved. But it sometimes 



directly benefits the general health of the sheep, but all that ftills on the 

 ground acts as manure, so that nothing is wasted. — W. Humfrey. 

 The salt might also be placed in troughs in the field. — The Authok. 



