274 ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OE ENGLAND. 
shortly afterwards; and in those instances in which ewes are 
pregnant with twins, as many as 80 to 90 per cent, have been 
attacked. When following parturition it proves rapidly fatal. 
The duration of the malady varies from twenty-four hours to 
three, four, or occasionally seven days, but the shorter periods 
are the more common. It is non-contagious. The presence of 
the sick, however, has in some instances appeared to excite 
abortion in the healthy ewes, and thus occasioned additional loss. 
Symptoms .—The primary indications of ill-health consist in a 
separation of the sick from the healthy, a disinclination to feed, 
and a dull, lowering expression, attended with feeble movements. 
In this condition the animal continues only for a short time and 
other and more urgent symptoms quickly develop themselves. 
The gait now becomes very unsteady, the head is carried near 
the ground, the ears and eyelids droop, and the general expression 
is one of extreme prostration, being not unfrequently followed 
by complete paralysis. The constitutional disturbance is further 
marked by a considerable rise of internal temperature, the heart’s 
action becomes quick and feeble, and the respirations hurried. 
Should the disease continue its course, nervous phenomena of a 
very characteristic type appear. The muscles of one or more of 
the limbs are feebly jerked towards the trunk. The eyes are 
fixed, and drawn deeply into their orbits, while at the same time 
the pupil is directed outwards. The head is either drawn directly 
backwards and supported in a rigid manner or it is thrown to the 
side, where it persistently rests as is seen in cows suffering from 
parturient apoplexy. The lips are turned upwards, or moved 
from side to side. 
As the malady progresses all these symptoms become aggra¬ 
vated, and the wool readily leaves its follicles. In other cases, 
where parturition has taken place, symptoms of abdominal pain 
are manifested, owing to inflammatory infiltration of the uterus. 
The animal moves round and round, and afterwards throws 
itself down, and turns its head again and again towards the flank. 
Pain is evinced on pressing the belly, and likewise in voiding 
the faeces or urine; there is always more or less straining and 
tumefaction of the vulva, with ejection of a thick red, and tenacious 
substance, consisting of blood, mucus, and the debris of the foetal 
membranes. Occasionally, besides the group of symptoms re¬ 
ferred to, there is more or less discharge of a muco-purulent 
character from the eyes and nose, but I am disposed to regard 
this as accidental, and owing to exposure in the early period of 
the disease. 
Examination after death .—The body is invariably emaciated, 
although in many instances a fair amount of fat is found in the 
region of the kidneys. Decomposition sets in early. The cavity 
of the belly sometimes contains a greater or less quantity of blood¬ 
stained fluid. The intestines are pale, and their walls attenuated. 
The mucous or lining membrane may or may not be reddened j in 
some instances it is much so, and at the same time swollen and 
