ON THE VARIOLA OR SMALL-POX OF SHEEP. 
627 
choice hay, bran and crushed oats, or a little linseed cake or oat- 
meal scattered amongst the bran, and fresh water to drink at 
pleasure. When the appetite is gone, horn into them oatmeal 
gruel, or if purging sets in, wheat flour gruel thickened with starch, 
or arrow root, sago, or rice milk by way of change is beneficial. 
In mild cases no medicine is required, and, in a fortnight’s time, 
when the fever has run its course, they may be gradually inured 
to turning out. 
When the febrile action runs high and the bowels are constipated, 
then it will be necessary to give in a little oatmeal gruel a wine 
glass of cold-drawn linseed oil once or twice a-day, according to 
the age, size, and constitution of the sheep, so as to render the 
bowels just soluble, but not to purge, as it would check the erup- 
tive stage ( 'purging salts are too cold, therefore inadmissible ). 
After the bowels are regulated, I should recommend five to ten 
grains of nitrite of potash to be given in a little gruel twice a-day. 
Should there be acute inflammation of the lungs with much oppres- 
sion, a small quantity of blood might be taken away to relieve it, 
say, four or six ounces ; but it should be very judiciously and 
charily had recourse to, as debility soon ensues. As soon as the 
acute symptoms subside, and the eruption is going on satisfac- 
torily, nothing but good nursing is required. 
When Symptoms of extreme debility occur, with total loss of 
appetite, the eruption not coming forward but looking livid, with a 
disposition of the pustules to run into one another — if the discharge 
from the nostrils is yellow, fetid, and sticking like glue to them, 
the pulse rapid and feeble, every symptom evidencing a typhoid 
form — tonics must be had recourse to, such as gentian, peruvian 
bark, sulphate of quinine or sulphate of iron in combination with 
aromatic powders, and administered in some good sound fresh ale; 
but when diarrhoea ensues, a tablespoonful of port wine, with a 
little cinnamon, should be given frequently through the day in 
wheat flour, arrow root, or sago gruel ; or, if needful, chalk, confectio 
aromatica, kino, with a little tincture of opium. It will be neces- 
sary to house the worst cases : the places should be airy, but no 
current; not putting too many together ; in summer the straw-yard 
is the best. As the stench is intolerable, chloride of lime should 
be placed up and down where they are housed. If any parts of 
the body are sloughing, they should be kept clean, and dressed 
with either tincture of myrrh and aloes or Friars’ balsam, followed 
up by a good dressing of warm digestive ointment daily. 
According to Hurtrel d’Arboval, the post-mortem appearances 
occurring in severe cases are congestion of the brain, with serous 
effusion into the ventricles; the brain is softened, the cerebral 
portion yellow, blackish ; the tongue and buccal membrane disco- 
