A Treatise on Sheep Part 8

(123.) _Treatment[27] of Blown._ If the difficulty in breathing be only slight, keep the sheep moving _gently_ up and down as the air will thus have a chance of escaping from the stomach. If the symptoms are more alarming, pa.s.s the elastic tube employed in the same complaint in cattle down the throat, or if that cannot be procured use a cane with an ivory or wooden bullet at the end of it. Never _stick_ the animal, as recovery by this plan is almost hopeless. If you cannot obtain the aforesaid instruments, bleed the animal till it becomes very faint, and if this is of no avail proceed to kill it. Shepherds often prescribe a purgative dose after this occurrence. In general, however, it is not required. To prevent a flock becoming _blown_, always when, for the first time on rich pasture, make the dog move leisurely among them so as to prevent them feeding hastily.

[27] In speaking of remedial measures, the word treatment ought to be used in preference to "_cure_" which figures at the head of the medical advice in veterinary works. It is sheer nonsense to blazon such a word in pages having any pretentions to candour, for how seldom are we able conscientiously to affirm that our endeavours will be followed by a _cure_. All we can do is to pursue the _treatment_ best adapted for the attainment of so desirable an end.

(124.) _Braxy or Sickness._ Six or eight species of braxy are enumerated by shepherds, but as they all bear a striking resemblance one to another, in their origin and progress, it is preferable to treat of them as one disease. Indeed wire-drawn distinctions, though occasionally serviceable in cattle-medicine, ought in most instances to be avoided, as they are of but little avail, and in this disease straw-splitting can only serve to tantalize the farmer, by giving rise to ideas of finical modes of treatment, which before the Chapter ends are reduced to the simplest aids which medicine affords. Whatever may be the seat or seats of the disease, the identically same resources are employed in all:--why therefore ought the reader to be troubled with a hundred trifling phases, which, not being _essential_ to the malady, can only tend to perplex him in his search for the little that is practically available.

(125.) _Symptoms of Braxy._ In those rare cases where the animal is seen at the commencement of the disease, it will appear uneasy, lying down and rising up repeatedly, loathing food, and drinking frequently.

In a little while the symptoms become more decided, and fever shows itself. The wool is clapped, the skin hot, the pulse quick and strong, respiration is rapid and laborious, while the blood is thick and black, issuing from the orifice, in attempts at bleeding, drop by drop.

Sometimes the heart beats irregularly: the mouth is parched, and the eyes are red, languid, partly closed, and watery. The head is down, the back drawn up, and the belly swollen; there is scarcely any pa.s.sage through the bowels, the urine is small in quant.i.ty, high coloured, and sometimes b.l.o.o.d.y. The sheep shuns the flock, slowly dragging itself to some retired spot, where convulsed and screaming it shortly dies. Death may occur in a few hours, or may, in some rare cases, be delayed for a week. A fatal termination is not so sudden as some have fancied, since the animal is in general seriously ill for many hours before it is discovered.

(126.) _Appearances on dissection._ Though many parts are commonly implicated in the _sickness_, there is every reason for believing the _reed_ to be primarily affected. Inflammatory appearances, and mortification, the usual result of violent inflammation in this quarter, are visible on its coats, especially at the pyloric extremity (Plate I. Fig. 2, _py_.) The inner coat presents a blackish-red, and gelatinous appearance,--the entire bowel being soft, pulpy, and easily permeable to the finger. The intestines, kidneys, and bladder, will, in all probability, exhibit similar changes, while the lining membrane of the abdomen (the _peritoneum_) is frequently affected: when this membrane has been much inflamed, the intestines are glued together, are surrounded with b.l.o.o.d.y or floculent serum, occasioning before death tumidity of the under part of the belly, and communicating, when struck, a feeling of fluctuation to a hand placed at a distance from the blow. The muscles in various parts of the body frequently partic.i.p.ate in the disease, b.l.o.o.d.y serum being infiltrated between the layers. As the brain, in severe cases, exhibits symptoms of oppression, so on dissection it will be found red and turgid, enabling us to account for the convulsive movements during the termination of the malady. The whole body, more particularly the abdomen, gives out a fetid gangrenous odour, which has procured for braxy the pastoral appellation of "_stinking ill_" and renders the dissection far from pleasant. After death putrefaction goes on with great rapidity, especially in moist weather, hence the necessity of testing the solidity of the carca.s.s by giving it, as is customary in some parts, _three shakes_ before proceeding to prepare it for household use!

(128.) _Causes of Braxy._ Whatever tends to constipate the bowels may be reckoned a predisposing cause. Whenever constipation occurs, especially if on a sickrife pasture, the sheep may be looked upon as ripe for the disease. Any crude indigestible substance, taken into the stomach when the animal is in this state, will have a tendency to kindle braxy, and the liability to it will not only be heightened, but the chances of recovery will also be lessened, by the animal being in high condition.

Wedder hogs are peculiarly its victims, but only when hirsled, as when allowed to pasture with their mothers they are less liable to it. This is accounted for by the fact, that hirsled hogs are comparatively _dull_, not being familiar with the proper times for feeding, and incapable of selecting the suitable herbage, from having wanted the tutoring of the mother.

From the beginning of November till the middle of March, _sickness_ commits its greatest ravages, especially among heath sheep, from their being more confined than others to dry binding provender. Frozen gra.s.s is also a common exciting cause, rapidly inducing inflammation by lowering the temperature of the stomachs so very much as to arrest digestion, and lead to its acting as an irritant. The succulent gra.s.s in the sheltered hollows of mountains is more liable to frost than a sapless herbage, and to it, owing to its moisture, the young sheep resort, devouring it eagerly to a.s.suage their thirst. Braxy, however, may arise from other and more obvious causes. The sheep, perhaps when heated by rash d.o.g.g.i.ng, is suddenly chilled by exposure to a shower, or a plunge in a mora.s.s, and if the bowels be at the time any way bound up, immediate mischief cannot but ensue. One of the rarest accidents to which it has been attributed is the prevention of the pa.s.sage of the faeces by a knot, or intussusception, forming on the intestines, but this occurrence would be of difficult discovery, and even if made known, our treatment, though not differing much from that of braxy, could hardly be successful.

(128.) _Treatment of Braxy._ Recovery is in many instances almost hopeless, owing to the length of time which in general elapses between the onset of the disease and the shepherd's discovery of the animal.

Nevertheless, the best treatment ought in every instance to have a proper trial, as life may often be saved when such a result is least expected. Many plans have been resorted to, but none are found to suit so well as that of bleeding and purging. The first thing to be attempted is the procuring of a copious flow of blood, but, as before mentioned, this is a difficult matter, owing to the stagnant state of the circulation at the surface of the body. Its abstraction may, however, be rendered easy, by placing the sheep in a tub of warm water, or, where this cannot be procured, by rolling a blanket wrung out of hot water round the body of the animal. The tub of water should always be preferred, and the moment the sheep is placed in it, the tail should be nicked, and one or both jugular veins opened.

Retain the sheep in the bath for half an hour, adding hot water from time to time, so as to sustain the original temperature. This of itself will alleviate the sufferings of the animal.

When a copious flow of blood has been obtained, remove the sheep from the tub, and administer two ounces of Glauber's or Epsom salt, dissolved in warm water, subst.i.tuting a handful of common salt when these cathartics cannot be procured. It is needless to give a purgative without bleeding, as, till this is done, it will not operate. When in spite of this the bowels continue obstinately constipated, give a glyster of tobacco decoction, made by boiling a drachm of the leaf (the full of a pipe will do) for a few minutes in a pint of water. Half of this only should be injected, using the other if circ.u.mstances require it. Place the sheep in a house, or any comfortable situation, bed it with straw, throw a horse-rug over it, and promote the purging by warm gruels. When out of danger supply it with moderate quant.i.ties of laxative provender, and keep it for ten days apart from its fellows, by which time it will, in all likelihood, be well recruited.

(129.) _Prevention of Braxy._ Change of pasture will at once suggest itself. Let it be to a succulent one, on which old sheep have been for some time feeding; the hogs will thus be hindered from filling their paunches too rapidly. But, if heathy food is the staple provender, allow your sheep four or five hours of turnips in the twenty-four, permitting at the same time free access to common salt. These, from their laxative effects, will serve as antidotes to the dry sapless gra.s.ses, which have led to the disease. Such places as mossy soils, abounding in evergreen plants, will also serve the purpose. Burn your ley heather, as nothing is more decidedly prejudicial, not only from its constipating qualities, but also from being surrounded by a gra.s.s, which is so much relished by the sheep, that they resort to the spot long after it has been eaten to the quick, and devour in their eagerness much that is foul and unwholesome from frequent puddling. You thus obtain a good supply of sprouts, as invaluable for opening qualities, as the old heather is to be dreaded for its astringency.

Finally, be aware that careful herding is not the least efficacious of preventives; a quiet, even-tempered, and thoughtful shepherd, being here of far more value than the stores of the apothecary.

(130.) _Pining._ _Symptoms and Causes._ The name has arisen from the rapid wasting, which is a prominent symptom in this complaint. A farm can hardly be subject to a more ruinous distemper, as the same sheep will be affected by it year after year, and if a ewe be attacked during autumn it is ten to one she will not have a lamb in the ensuing season.

Pining only seizes on thriving sheep, preferring young ones, those more especially of the larger breeds, and is confined to farms where the land is princ.i.p.ally micaceous and covered with occasional stripes of benty gra.s.ses. A whole flock sickens at once, their usual alacrity appears to have deserted them, their eyes are dull, and the whole animal seems weary and languid. At a more advanced stage the wool acquires a bluish tinge, the blood becomes thick, diminis.h.i.+ng in quant.i.ty, and the muscles a.s.sume a pale and bloodless appearance. The bowels are constipated, and to this the feverish symptoms apparently owe their origin. If the disease progress, death will ensue in about a month.[28]

[28] A gradual wasting of the animal, similar to what occurs in pining, may result from the irritation consequent on swallowing pointed bodies, as pins or needles. I have in my possession a very stout needle, given me by Mr Wilkin of Tinwald Downs, which was found buried in the coats of the stomach of a young sheep which died under the above symptoms, having been ill about three months.

(131.) _Treatment and Prevention._ The first object is to obtain a free discharge from the bowels by means of purgatives, as, whenever a flux appears, the animal is safe. Two ounces of Castor oil given in a gruel, or the same quant.i.ty of Epsom salts, will do, care being taken that the purging be carried to some length.

Removal to a rich pasture is the only preventive. That pasture should be preferred which contains a good proportion of bitter plants, for the emaciation appears to be owing in a considerable degree to torpor of the bowels occasioned by long abstinence from these necessaries.

(132.) _Staggers._ The symptoms nearly resemble those of st.u.r.dy, which I have afterwards to describe, and with which indeed I might have cla.s.sed it, were it not that it appears to be merely the result of a poisonous plant being taken into the stomach. It is rarely seen hereabouts; I shall, therefore, quote the account of it presented to the Highland Society by Mr Stevenson:--"This is a disease seldom or never affecting the sheep in this country, those excepted which feed in forests, or amongst planting. The symptoms of it are more violent than those of st.u.r.dy, during the time of their continuance. The animal, after staggering for some time, falls on the ground, when a general trembling comes on over the limbs; they are violently convulsed, and quite insensible to every thing. During the continuance of the paroxysm they throw the body into various positions, and sometimes roll to a considerable distance. The fit continues for a quarter, sometimes half an hour, or an hour. When they rise, they seem perfectly bewildered, till they regain the flock, when they continue to feed well, till another paroxysm supervenes. This disease appears in Autumn, and various causes are said to produce it. Improper food, the leaves of the oak, from their astringent quality, cobwebs sprinkled with dew, have all been reckoned as causes. I am inclined, however, to suppose, that it arises from the action of a poisonous gra.s.s (_Lolium temulentum_), which is the only one of that description in this country, and grows only in those situations where staggers prevail. What effect these causes have on the brain to produce this disease, I cannot explain.

When it continues for any time on the same individual, it is apt to be fatal."

"Change of pasture is the only effectual cure for it."

(133.) _Diarrhoea._ By this is meant a constant purging, affecting the younger portions of the flock between April and June, leading to great emaciation, and proceeding from one of the following causes.

1st. Eating a soft tathy pasture, particularly if fouled by the inundations of the previous winter.

2d. Feeding on too rich a pasture, or a sudden change from an herbage deficient in nutritive qualities, to one that is much superior.

3d. Transitions from heat to cold.

4th. Weakness and relaxation of the bowels.

(134.) _Treatment of Diarrhoea._ When either of the first two causes has given rise to purging, a moderate allowance of good hay will gradually stop it. This may be discontinued when the sheep has _taken_ with its altered fare.

When diarrhoea has been occasioned by exposure to damp, or sudden transitions from heat to cold, it may be arrested by keeping the animal in a house for a few days, and feeding it on any dry aliment, but when crude trashy matter has been swallowed, and keeps up irritation by its presence, medicine must be resorted to. Administer an ounce of castor oil in gruel, adding twenty drops of Laudanum if there has been straining or evidences of pain. When the bowels have been _thoroughly cleared_ by this cathartic, it will be proper, if the discharge still continue, to check it by astringents. The medicine found by experience to answer best, is prepared as follows:--

Take of Logwood four ounces, Extract of Catechu (j.a.pan earth) one drachm, Cinnamon two drachms, Water three English pints.

Boil for a quarter of an hour, strain, and then add sixty drops of Laudanum. Administer half an English pint of this night and morning so long as the flux continues.

Diarrhoea seldom proves fatal, and is indeed an easily managed disease; but as it is frequently only a symptom of some other affection, or a critical effort of the const.i.tution to ward off some more serious mischief, the attempts at stopping it should always be cautiously conducted.

(135.) _Dysentery.--Symptoms._ The pulse is quick and the respirations hurried. The skin is harsh and hot, and the wool in general clapped.

The mouth is dry, the eyes red and languid, and the ears drooping. Food is taken only in small quant.i.ties and rumination is stopped. The discharges from the bowels are frequent, slimy, sometimes green, and a little further on in the disease are mixed with blood. The belly is drawn towards the back. It is knotted and lumpy to the touch and a rumbling noise (_borborygmus_) is heard within it. As a careless observer might have some difficulty in distinguis.h.i.+ng dysentery from diarrhoea the following diagnostic summary, drawn up by Professor Duncan, will be found of service.

1. Diarrhoea attacks chiefly hogs and weak gimmers and dinmonts; whereas dysentery is frequent among older sheep.

2. Diarrhoea almost always occurs in the spring, and ceases about June, when dysentery only commences.

3. In diarrhoea there is no fever or tenesmus, or pain before the stools, as in dysentery.

4. In diarrhoea the faeces are loose, but in other respects natural, without any blood or slime; whereas in dysentery, the faeces consists of hard lumps pa.s.sed occasionally without any blood or slime.

5. There is not that degree of foetor in the faeces in diarrhoea which takes place in dysentery.

6. In dysentery, the appet.i.te is totally gone, in diarrhoea it is rather sharper than usual.

7. In dysentery, the animal wastes rapidly, but by diarrhoea only a temporary stop is put to its thriving, after which it makes rapid advances to strength, vigour and proportion.

If dysentery continue to advance it will terminate fatally within a fortnight. Death is generally preceded by the "_black scour_," which is only an aggravation of the purging, the stools being mixed with shreds of dark gangrenous matter from the decomposed interior of the intestines.

(136.) _Causes of Dysentery._ Many absurd opinions have gone abroad regarding the contagious nature of this affection. Contagion, however, has nothing to do with the matter, the spread of the disease depending entirely on the state of the atmosphere and the nature of the locality.

When dysentery occurs the weather is usually sultry, the ground upon which the flock has been going, foul, and the management of the sheep so improper, as to be sufficient of itself to produce the disease very generally. There is in fact only one proof of a disease being infectious, viz., its immediate occurrence on the introduction of an affected animal among such as are in good health, on sound food, and in easy circ.u.mstances. This proof, however, in regard to dysentery has never been established, and no medical person will now affirm that it is contagious. Some think that it travels from flock to flock in the direction of the wind, but its appearing simultaneously in many folds ought rather to be charged to the fact of the predisposing causes being nearly similar in all.

(137.) _Treatment of Dysentery._ Bleed freely if the disease has continued only for a few days, but moderately if a longer time has unfortunately elapsed. Stoving, by which is meant shutting the animal in a wash-house, and allowing the apartment to become filled with steam, though urged by some writers, cannot here be recommended. The intended object is the promotion of perspiration, by exciting the action of the skin, but this may be brought about by means much more conducive to the safety of the animal. After the bleeding immerse the sheep in a tub of hot water, and retain it there for twenty minutes; then administer an ounce of Castor oil, with thirty drops of Laudanum, and cover the sheep up in a snug corner. After the oil has operated, thin well-boiled flour-porridge, given at intervals, in small quant.i.ties, will help to defend the ulcerated bowels, sooth the pain, and stop the purging. If these fail, you may use the astringent mixture recommended in diarrhoea at page 175, and in the same manner, adding to each dose a grain of ipecacuanha. When the appet.i.te returns, and the stools begin to acquire consistency, speedy recovery may be prognosticated.

During recovery part of the wool always falls off.

(138.) _Prevention of Dysentery._ If you wish your sheep to take the disease, do as some wiseacres recommend--put tar upon their tails, and noses; you will thus render them feverish, and uncomfortable, and every way fit for an attack.

Gathering sheep into confined places is always bad, nothing will tend more to ward off dysentery than an open frequently-changed easy-lying pasture, combined with gentle usage on the part of the shepherd.

DISEASES OF THE SKIN.

(139.) _Scab, or Itch._--_Symptoms and Causes._ These are so well known that they hardly merit a description. Little white specks appear upon the wool, and are soon followed by a small pustule at the root. The pustules are produced by a minute insect burrowing in the skin, which accounts for one external application of any active substance being sufficient to eradicate the malady. The infected sheep is restless, tearing off the wool with its teeth, and rubbing itself against every resisting body. The skin is red and fretted, discharging an ichor which hardens into crusts. These gradually extend, inducing a premature failure of the wool.

If the sheep be not relieved, it sinks under its acc.u.mulated miseries.