663 
SINGULAR DISEASE AFFECTING SHEEP. 
By W. A. Cox, Jun., M.R.C.V.S., Ashbourne. 
The loss among sheep during the spring and lambing 
seasons, has been very great in all parts of this country. It 
has been attributed to the inclemency of the weather, and also 
various other causes. 
Several singular cases have recently come under my notice. 
I had a patient to visit, some miles from this town, and on 
going into the farm-yard I noticed they were bleeding a flock 
of sheep. Commenting on this, the owner said his sheep were 
dying in a very strange way, as if affected with blackleg. 
One of the sheep, which had been shorn four hours previous 
to the attack of the disease, was lying dead. He described the 
affection as commencing in a small swelling, generally between 
the fore legs, and extending under the belly. It was not, 
however, invariably confined to this part; the head, throat, 
and neck, being occasionally implicated. 
I was asked to examine one in which the disease had com¬ 
menced an hour previously. I found an extensive, discoloured, 
swelling, between the fore legs, which was emphysematous, 
and on puncturing it with a lancet a discharge of bloody- 
coloured serum flowed from the puncture. T his animal died 
after suffering four hours. 
At the commencement of the disease the animal refuses 
food, shows a disinclination to move, and great dejection of 
spirits ; the swelling extends very rapidly, until it attains 
the size of a maiPs head, in which state it remains. In those 
that have recovered, the enlargement has burst, and discharged 
a large amount of pus mingled with serum. The animals that 
die, linger, in most cases, but a few hours. 
Post-mortem examination .—The viscera generally healthy, 
except the intestines, which are much discoloured through¬ 
out their convolutions, the mucous lining membrane being 
also in a highly diseased state. The tumour, when opened, 
emits a quantity of foul gas, and a little serum. 
Pemarks .—This flock of sheep had been kept on the hills 
during the severe weather of last winter, and been stinted 
in food, and on their removal to better pastures in the valley 
they had grown very rapidly, but none died until after they 
were shorn of their wool. 
1 should imagine that the increase of nutritive principle in 
the food, from the animals being in a debilitated condition, 
