In the way of prevention the farmer may do much ; he may drain the most suspicious parts of his farm. No money would be more profitably expended than in accomplishing this. Some of the little swampy spots which disgrace the appearance of his farm possibly lie at the root of the evil.
Redirater, or the effusion of a bloody serous fluid in the cavity of the abdomen, is a frequent and very fatal disease among sheep. Time cause of it is a sudden change from one pasture to another of almost opposite quality, or the moving of the flock from a dry and warm to a clamp and cold situation. It is most destructive to lambs if exposed to a hard frost or suffered to lie on a damp and cold soil. The sheep will separate himself from the rest of the flock ; he will evince a great deal of pain by rolling about, and frequently lying down, and imme diately getting up again ; and, sometimes. he dies in less than twenty four hours from the first attack. The belly will be found swelled and filled with the red water, or serous fluid tinged with blood, from which the disease derives its name. The treatment should consist of mild aperients, with gentian and ginger, and a liberal allowance of hay and corn.
Diarrhea is a very prevalent disease among lambs, and especially after a change of diet or of situation. When it is not violent, and does not seem to be attended by colic, a little absorbent and astringent medicine, with a few grains of opium, may be administered. The diarrhtea of sheep may bo similarly treated, but when the disease is assuming tho character of dysentery—when the discharge is more fre quent and copious, and mingled which mucus, a larger quantity of this medicine should be given, and some blood abstracted it there is Any degree of fever.
The diseases of the respiratory organs are often of a serious character. During the greater part of the winter the nostrils will sometimes be filled with mucus, and the sheep is compelled to stop for a moment at every second or third bite, And snort violently, and stand with his muzzle extended and labouring for breath. If his general health does not seem to be affected, this will pass away as the spring approaches. If however any of the flock should now appear to be losing flesh and strength, it is too probable that consumption is at hand. The only chance of saving or doing them any good will be to place them in some comfortable pasture, letting them have ample food and salt within their reach.
Lambs, when too early and too much exposed, are subject to diseases of the upper air passages, one attended by a ringing cough, and the other by ono of a more wheezing sound. Bleeding will always be necessary for the first, with aperient medicine. A mild purgative will usually suffice for the second, or possibly an ounce or an ounce and A half of common salt may be given dissolved in six ounces of lime water.
in/amino/ion of the lungs, recognised by the difficulty of breathing, heaving at the flanks, and distressing cough, is a disease of frequent occurrence in sheep. It speedily runs its course, and the lungs are found to be one disorganised mass. Bleeding and purging are indis pensable : but as soon as the violent aymptome seem to remit, tonics must follow.
thirget.—Inflammation of the udder is morn frequent in the ewe than in the cow. The udder should be well fomentol with warm water, and may then be returned to her lamb.
Diseases of the treatment of foce-ret essentially consists in paring away all loose and detached horn. This is the cornerstone of skilful And successful practice. All fungous granulations most either be out away, or destroyed by the 'initiate of antimony, and the foot well washed with a solution of chloride of limo. The muriate of antimony must then be lightly applied over the whole of the denuded surface. This must be repeated daily until the whole of the foot is covered with new horn.
The Scab is a very troublesome disease, common in the spring and slimmer. The sheep is continually scratching himself with his feet, tearing off the wool, and violently rubbing himself against every pro truding substance. It is a very infectious disease, for every place against which the sheep can rub himself becomes tainted with the poison. The sheep must be housed And shorn as closely as possible, and then well washed with warm water. An ointment composed of one part of mercurial ointment and seven of lard must then be procured, and such a quantity of it as the diseased parts seem to require rubbed in on every second day. Every place in the field and in the fold against which he can possibly have rubbed himself must be well cleaned and painted before he is permitted to return.
Lice and Ticks will be best got rid of by the application of the mercurial ointment just recommended.
The Fly.—Several species of fly frequently deposit their ova on the wool of the sheep. If there are any sore places, they are selected for the habitation of the lame. The head, as the most exposed part, is the one oftenest attacked, and the sheep are sadly tormented by the fly and the lame. The best preservative or cure is the application of a plaster composed of a pound of pitch and a quarter of an ounce of bees' wax, spread on soft leather or linen. The attack may however be generally prevented by the application of a small quantity of spirit of tar to the head, or any bare or sore part, Two or three applications of this will be sufficient for the whole of the summer, and not a fly will approach a sheep thus guarded.