ON THE LQUPING-ILL IN SHEEP. 
163 
spasmodic locking of the jaw, a frothy saliva being at the same time 
emitted from the mouth, more especially when the convulsive fits 
have come on, which in severe cases frequently takes place from 
once to twice every five minutes, accompanied by a very laborious 
and quick respiration. The hurried breathing, however, subsides 
altogether as soon as the fit has terminated. 
In this deplorable state the animal will remain for minutes, hours, 
or days, according to the severity of the attack ; and if he does 
not rally from it, death sooner or later ensues. Indeed, when 
sheep affected with louping-ill have once taken the ground, or, in 
other words, when the state of collapse has commenced, we must 
have recourse to the knife as the only means of putting an end to 
their sufferings. 
Some few instances, however, have occurred among my flock, 
when they have most unexpectedly recovered, so as again to follow 
their neighbours, and get entirely well ; and in other cases they 
have for a length of time dragged a seemingly powerless hind leg 
behind them, and the left leg oftener than the right one. When 
this, however, takes place, the limb still remains cold and dead for 
a time, in despite of the use of friction or stimulants. If it is a 
fore leg, it is not uncommon, after the sheep gets on its feet again, 
for a tumour of the size of a pigeon’s or even of a hen’s egg, 
filled with pus or ichor, to appear. On being punctured, it pre- 
sently subsides and is lost. These abscesses usually appear in the 
neighbourhood of the joints, but sometimes about the arms, the 
brisket, or any neighbouring part of the body. 
Other symptoms of this disease are a wild, excited appearance 
on being approached by man, dog, or any other animal, and, 
even by one of their own species — a champing or gnashing of the 
teeth, and foaming at the mouth while yet on their legs, accom- 
panied by vertigo and delirium, also the assuming of a rotatory or 
sidelong motion. When these last symptoms, which are those of 
apoplexy, or determination of blood to the head, are seen, I have 
frequently restored the animal to perfect health by opening the 
two veins at the inner angles of the eyes, and whence a copious 
discharge of blood may be effected ; but this can only be done 
with advantage when the case is taken in time. Venesection 
would prove highly injurious if performed after the sheep has 
taken the ground, and entered into the collapsed state of the dis- 
ease, and ought not to be attempted, although shepherds frequently 
bleed promiscuously, alike ignorant and reckless of the conse- 
quences, and thereby destroy their patient, when tonics, and suit- 
able aliment, as warm milk, or thin flour gruel in a tepid state, 
would be dictated by the plainest common sense. 1 may remark, 
that this class ef men are yet, notwithstanding the extensive diffu- 
