213 
CONSULTATIONS. 
No. XX. 
The Management of the Ewe previous to Lambing. 
My dear Sir, 
A nobleman — a very extensive agriculturist and grazier, 
by whom I am employed, has, within the last few days, lost 
several of his best true Down ewes, just ready to drop their 
lambs. There are several hundreds of the true Leicester and 
Down Leicester breeds in the same flock ; but they are all doing 
well at present. They are pastured on a fine rich elevated park, 
the feed short, folded at night, and allowed good hay. The best 
of them are generally the first and the worst attacked. 
Symptoms . — They stray from the rest of the flock ; lie down; 
toss their heads and grind their teeth. If suddenly disturbed 
they jump up, and then frequently topple heels over head. They 
at length, however, rise, or lie and look dull, sleepy and stupid. 
They walk stiffly, and with their bellies tucked up; and after 
going a little way they lie dowm and are unable to rise. The 
appetite is lost, and rumination ceases. These are the principal 
symptoms, varying much in degree. Their pulse and respiration 
are little affected, except when the animals are excited. The 
legs and ears are generally warm, the mucous membranes of their 
natural colour. The disease generally terminates fatally about 
the fifth day from the first attack. A few that have been bled 
seem to rally a little, and are certainly better. They were all 
bled when this disease first appeared. 
Post-mortem examination . — The liver very pale, of a light 
yellow-clay colour, and containing but little blood. 
The lungs . — The parenchymatous substance filled with thou- 
sands of minute round, red, or yellow spots, from the size of a 
pin’s point to that of a pin’s head. When cut into they contain 
either blood or yellow serum— -in some few, pus : but from their 
minute size it is difficult for me to describe them. 
The brain . — In that part of the dura mater opposite lo and just 
below the frontal sinuses, there was a black and soft effusion, 
easily wiped off. The substance of the brain was a little softened, 
but otherwise healthy. Every other part of the animal was mi- 
nutely examined, and was perfectly healthy. The sheep were 
rather fat for breeding sheep, and two fine lambs in each of 
them. The stomachs and intestines were healthy, and contained 
but little food. A.S, C. 
VOL. xiv. E e 
