166 
ON THE LOUPING-ILL IN SHEEP. 
infected by it was fully as unsafe as a rotten one. It still exists 
on some straggling, dry farms, where the ground is visibly over- 
stocked, and in dry frosty seasons, when the spring is hard and 
severe. In such places, if March and April are barren, no succulent 
nor almost even any green thing, is to be attained by the poor 
creatures for a long space of time. It is easy, then, to conceive 
the emaciated state into which this must throw them. If at this 
time they happen to get an overstretch in running or leaping, or 
even a hasty start or crush in the fold, numbers fall a prey to this 
disorder, or rather to these various disorders. Some will fall down 
and die in two or three minutes — others will lose the power of 
one side, and lie sprawling until they die of hunger — others, 
again, will lie shivering, and very sick at times, until death comes 
to their relief; while a few will go a long time quite lame, some- 
times carrying one limb, and sometimes another, until they are 
likewise quite exhausted. 
“ In the first case, when they fall down and threaten instantly 
to expire, which is certainly an apoplectic shock, I have seen 
bleeding, by cutting a piece from the tail, or opening a vein 
on the inside of the fore thigh, give immediate relief. In all 
the other cases, the best method is to take them home, and feed 
them with strengthening food, until they gradually recover. If 
once, by this strong feeding, they are attacked by a temporary 
diarrhoea, they will recover very fast. 
“ This distemper is peculiar to dry soils, and prevails in dry 
barren springs, when the wind settles in the east. If the 
sheep are in good condition, they are not nearly so apt to take 
it : but if they are either low of body, or the wind have a ten- 
dency to centre easterly, the greatest care must be taken to use 
the flocks gently, and it is highly commendable to decline under- 
locking them altogether, cutting off the wool round the udder in 
ewes that are near the time of yeaning, as the fatigue which 
they thereby undergo, and the cold which thus penetrates to the 
most tender parts, are often attended by the most fatal conse- 
quences.” 
If to these valuable opinions of practical men, a northern veteri- 
nary surgeon would kindly add the result of his researches and 
experience, he would confer great obligation on us, and on the 
profession.] Y. 
