626 ON THE VARIOLA OR SMALL-POX OF SHEEP. 
saliva from the mouth, running at the nose, the pituitury membrane 
inflamed and engorged, swelling of the eyelids, conjunctiva ulcer- 
ated, accompanied sometimes with disorganisation of the structures 
of the eyes, oppressed, laboured respiration, with a whistling sound, 
extreme debility, diarrhoea, the evacuations being very fetid, the 
eruption retires without coming to maturation, and death soon 
supervenes. 
Young lambs go through the disease very mildly, so much so, 
that the accompanying fever, so characteristic of the disease, is 
scarcely appreciable. 
As the pustular eruption progresses to maturity, a yellow, trans- 
parent, viscous secretion occurs, the summit of the pock is white : 
at this period the matter possesses its greatest propagating powers. 
After this the secretion becomes more thickened, assumes the 
genuine characters of pus, after which it desiccates about the 
twelfth day, and desquamates. The animal now rapidly recovers 
its spirits and general health. The period of desquamation is the 
longest of the four stages into which the disease resolves itself, 
lasting three or four weeks. According to the French, the dried 
scabs will not convey the contagion by inoculation. 
It is almost needless to point out the urgent necessity there is, 
as soon as the disease manifests itself, to separate the diseased 
portion from the healthy. In no set of diseases more than in the 
exanthematous or eruptive is there greater need to bear in mind, 
where, as in this class, Nature struggles to fling off the system the 
morbific matter by which she is oppressed, that we are or should 
he only handmaids to her , to assist where needful, and leave her 
alone where she evidences her powers equal to the occasion. It is 
by keeping a steady eye upon this rule and principle that the 
scientific and successful practitioner becomes distinguished from the 
ignorant and rash empiric, who is ever thwarting Nature’s opera- 
tions, and consequently scattering death and destruction around him. 
Where the disease is running its regular course, the symptoms 
moderate, all that is required is to keep the animals in a dry com- 
fortable straw-yard, free from cold draft, with plenty of litter, and 
fresh sweet water to drink ; unless the disease occurs in the summer 
months, when they may be turned out daily into a dry upland 
pasture, well sheltered, if possible, and not too luxuriant; but 
whilst the fever is running its course they must not be out during 
the nights, or when the days are wet and cold, as any check to 
the eruptive stage would drive the disease upon the internal 
and vital organs, and thereby render what might have been a 
simple disease a very complicated and dangerous one. The diet 
should consist of grass fresh mown, without wet or dew upon it, a 
few turnips, carrots, or mangold wurtzel; or else, if in winter, 
