70 



The Rot in Sheep. 



soon begins to enlarge and grow pendulous from effusion into 

 the abdominal cavity. In the advanced stages of the malady 

 this gives a still further altered outline to the body, for the 

 loins now sink or droop, and the animal becomes "hollow- 

 backed." 



The general surface of the skin loses its ruddy hue, and 

 becomes deficient of the unctuous secretion which in health 

 belongs to it. This renders the wool harsh and dry, and leads 

 also to its easy separation from the follicles. A dry scaly state 

 of skin, on the inner parts of the thighs, particularly where it 

 is uncovered with either wool or hair, is likewise early to be 

 recognised. 



The animal soon becomes dull and dispirited, and has a pecu- 

 liar dejected appearance, with an expression of countenance 

 common to many entozoic diseases. " The Ettrick Shepherd " 

 has a quaint tale about this. Once, he says, he was conversing 

 with Mr. Adam Bryden about distinguishing a rotten sheep 

 while at large with the flock, and asked him how this could be 

 done ; when " he answered in his usual shrewd and comical 

 style : The late Advocate Mackintosh's method of discerning a 

 good man is the best in the world whereby to distinguish a sound 

 sheep. His maxim was, ' I never like a man if I don't like his 

 face ! ' So say I of a sheep." 



An examination of the eye will materially assist in determining 

 the existence of the disease. If the lids be everted and the 

 membrana nictitans pressed forward, it will be found in the early 

 stages of the malady, and especially if the animal has been 

 excited by being driven a short distance, that the vessels of the 

 conjunctiva are turgid with pale or yellowish coloured blood, and 

 that the whole surface has a peculiar moist or watery appearance. 

 Later on, the same vessels are blanched, and scarcely to be 

 recognised ; excepting perhaps one or two which present a similar 

 watery condition, or otherwise are turgid with dark-coloured 

 blood. The state of the conjunctival membrane is held to be 

 a symptom of importance ; and rightly so, because it affords 

 a good means to determine the extent of the changes the 

 blood has undergone. It marks the amount of loss of the red 

 cells of the fluid, and shows also the diminution of the relative 

 quantity of the albumen and saline materials, upon which its 

 specific gravity depends. It is only in blood of proper density 

 that the red cells can be developed. The loss, therefore, of 

 albumen and salts will lead to a relative decrease of the cells, 

 and a corresponding increase of the watery element of the 

 fluid. 



This blanching of the vessels of the eyes has been commented 

 on by some of our earliest writers. Sir Anthony Fitzherbert 



