14 
On Lameness in Sheep and Lambs. 
a great change would appear in them, and death quickly ensue 
under the following singular circumstances : the affected lamb 
would abruptly leave the rest of the flock, arch its back, move 
cautiously and stiffly, with " a straddling walk," in a few hours 
erect its head, stagger, fall down and die, in some cases in the 
short space of an hour. On examining the body afterwards there 
would be found adjoining the kidneys, bowels, and in some cases 
the lungs, a large clot of extravasated blood ; the body in all other 
respects appearing free from disease. 
III. — Charbon, Black Quarter, or Qxiarter III. — Charbon 
consists in an inflammatory pustule or boil, which, if not 
checked by most decisive means, rapidly terminates in mor- 
tification. The parts generally attacked are the insides of the 
thighs, the arms, and coronets. This affection begins with a 
dark-red hard swelling, in the centre of which a vesicle or blister 
appears, which, when opened, contains a slough or dead flesh, 
black as charcoal. This black matter, which is dead or mortified 
tissue, spreads with the greatest rapidity, involving skin, cellular 
tissue, and sometimes the muscles beneath. 
Treatment. — The best-devised treatment is, in the majority of 
cases, altogether useless : however, should a trial be resolved on, 
only measures of the most energetic character will prove availing, 
as death often ensues before the shepherd is aware the sheep is 
ill. Immediately then, cut away all the mortified or black parts, 
and burn the exposed surface with an iron white hot ; after this, 
a pledget of tow saturated with nitric acid (aqua fortis) must be 
placed upon the parts, and the limb bandaged ; four ounces of 
salts and a dram of ginger may be given, and liquor ammoniae 
acetatis two drams ; also of nitric ether two drams three times a 
day. In two or three days remove the dressing, cut away, and 
apply the hot iron to any new slough, and continue the acid 
and bandage, repeating the dressing until healthy and red 
flesh appears. Nursing, in addition to warmth, must be duly 
attended to. 
Causes. — These are of two kinds : 1st. General infection of 
the system, from respiring air loaded with miasmata, or infectious 
and morbific effluvia, which are frequently evolved from low 
marshy undrained lands, or from diseased animals : 2nd. By 
inoculation of the diseased fluids ; hence, it is of the first 
importance that a diseased subject should be immediately re- 
moved and kept apart from healthy sheep or other animals. 
Persons who handle them must be very careful to prevent any of 
the diseased parts from coming in contact with an abraded 
portion of their skin, and must be careful on no account to 
inhale long the vapour which emanates from the carcase. This 
disease has frequently been produced by flies that have alighted 
