SHEEP AND THEIR DISEASES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2944, 28 May 1891, Page 4

SHEEP AND THEIR DISEASES.

1\ XV.■ (I Orr ><■(■'!). \ I marked f'a'ure nf the <lisca-c tt" ',\ ■i y put i f'fiirl i«;ii M'li in, rvt'ii ... I ,1. ,Ith. The animal -.well-, anil 11.. Iliiig is peculiar !■' dill-rent fnrm.,l,: ,v V Thus, in the common va'iety lie |. is fur in tin' ti-- u■ ■ beneath I kin,'ami this . levated along the hack „„.l ,idr', so that a crackling solisat_H.fi i. ob-ervod in press-in;.'the hack and loins ||, the forms of braxy, associated with ,li i ati'-'enient of the stomach aml intestine-, al,.luminal swcllinL' is ob-erve.i, paruiaily on the leftside, produced by the .Intended paunch, iu either ca.-e, immediately after death, tho whole of the -kin IS putted out by fetid gas, which i.ilie I'e-ult of decomposition in the structures beneath.

I'ont-inortum Appearances.—'The lesions in the body, reuniting from this disease, l,;ive been mistaken by the common observers, viz., shepherds and sheepowners, Any rodness has been ascribed to inflammation, but very rrmncously. There is bloody frothy mucus about the. nose, On separating tin; Hitin, we iind the fu tor intolerable, the Mo nl-vessels filled with black blood, anil

.•Hen a yellowish-red stained appearance of the superficial structures. On cutting into the belly, a little straw-coloured reddish fluid often escapes, the intestines and paunch being enormously inflated by gas, Tho whole surface of the orifans is red and congested. The third stomach is usually filled ttitb solid food. Here and there a darker huo is observed, and, on opening the di"estive tube, extravasations of blood, quite "circumscribed und beneath the mucous membrano, aro seen. The lungs aro found turgid with blood, and the heart — ofton spoken of as inflamed—is rnarkod both on its external and internal surfaces, with tho blood spots of a dark purplish hue, and filled with dark and oartly coagulated blood. lr, is not easy to determine the nature of the peculiar processby which animals in the most robust health, with great activity of all tho organs of the body, should be seized suddenly with a change in tho condition of tho blood, or an arrest of certain functions, whereby they sutler instantaneous death. There is „o doubt at all that the process is a very simplo one, aud is not inflammatory, thou"h tho condition of tho auiinal is certahily favourable to inflammatory disease. From the first symptoms of ill health, to the period of dissolution, there is not sufficient time for development of inflammation. Wo find the blood clotted in the blood-vossels, but no exudations of lymph or other lesion indicating an inflamed atiito of any organ. As in splenic apoplexy and black quarter, there are extravasations of blood, but those seem to depend on sudden congestions, attended by rupture of tho vessels, and consequent sanguineous effusion. In exceptional instances, when animals live on for several days, thera may bo inflammatory complications, but, as a rule, a sheep is dead within a couple of hours from tho timo it has been in the enjoyment of perfect health. Pathologists may regard tho disease as apoplexy, but from tho complete absence even of blood ell'upious in the most suddeu cases, I am inclined to believe that there is a general stasis, a clotting of blood within smaller vessel.; of tissues, the vitality, and hence the functions, of which are suddenly unpaired. iu the mountains of central aud southern Europe, tho disorder is regarded as a carbuncular fever. There is no doubt that it is attended with tho development, of an anthrax poison in the summer months, where the usual temperature is far higher than in Scotland. Nevertheless, even abroad, shepherds havo faith in ' braxy mutton,' Gaspaiu says, "Los chairs rlu mutou mort du charbon interne in: jiint mulleinent dangerouses quand 1 animal a ote aaigno au moinont du sa mort, et qu'ollos sout cuities: on en fait jourhollcmcnt usage dans nos fermes. Imi Lauguodoo, lea berges so font approter quelquefois lo charbon des betes a lame et iliseut que e'est uu morceau dolicat."

Treatment of tho diseaso. —Tho rupid manner in which animals aro attacked preeludes in many instances the adoption of remedies ; but, in tho event of acaso beinp: seen in the oarly stage, tho sheep should be moved briskly along, and bleeding should bo resorted to as promptly as possible. It is often found that blood (lows t'vrdily, and liko a thick tarry liquid, !Hi that the common inethntl of cutting the ears and tail to draw blood is a very unsatisfactory one. It will always be found that sheep will not loso much blood without exceeding eight ounces. It may bo drawn from tho thigh or neck \ . in s, or from tho veins of the face as desribed by Daubuutuii, Tho abscnee of the wool, and other facilities offered in bleeding from tho veins of tho face, should recommend it to all. The vein is opened just in front and below tho sharp prominent process of the bono on tho sine of the face, and in order to (ill the vein it is pressod upon bv the finger at the margin of tho jaw. Braxy is one of the dis. eases which unquestionably call for blood letting. I'urgatives, though slower in producing tho decided effects required to stop tho progress of this disease, are of very trreat value, and Epsom or Glauber's salts should be proffurred, in dnscs varying from 4 to G oz. Warm water injections are of groat service lo unload tho intestines. Common salt is a jroixl ,-uK'tituto in the ab-enee of an}- oilier purgative. I'.vveutioti ii t' uly better ihan cure for tie.' ili - IM>, and ihe dillwulty in tho way of ou'-urinfr it d 'peuds more on the routine, wldeh cannot be overcome, than r :i :tllv other cau-e. Shelter luis lon • : e been shown ns of great service in lii triets where frost is invariably associated with braxy : and no other moans can preserve well-fed and thriving animals from tho injurious influence of wet and cold. A careful study of tho causcs on any particular farm may suggest special means of preventing the disease. Thus, in some pirts, a moro retxular system of fectlmsr, and avoidinir changes from poor to rieh land, will sntlicu to check a heavy mortality, though we find that greater success attends our efforts on lowlands farms, whore the sudden deaths by braxy are evidently due to tho excess in tho richness of trrass and turnips. \\ e have .■il'.v-iys found the happiest result attend the use of tiit.ro mixed with bran and bruised linseed, in tho proportion of about 'JO grains to each hogget daily. The supply of food must bo checked if the deaths are numerous and lis moonlight nights imminence, the animals should bo placed in a bare field. (>n the hills the system of managing sheep is one i.icoinpatible with drugging, incoiupatbilo with effectual shelter, and incompatible with altering the nature of diet. In the face of all those difficulties it is not to bo wondered at if tho prevention of tho disease is a matter of great doubt; nevertheless, tho intelligent farmor, made conversant with tho truo and several eansos of the disorder, may ovorcomo some of the prejudices, and adopt means calculated to save an enormous peieentatre of his stock. There is no question moro importaut fer the "-hoop-owner of Scotland than tho prevention of braxy, and it would bo of {.rent adv.int.ago to obtain satisfactory answer J to the following problems I low best, to shelter hill stock? Flow, when occasion requires, food can bo most conveniently and economically changed, or diminished in quantity '■ and lastly, How the neutral salts, such asnitro, may ho combined with food and given to animals when braxy appears with mi,u"! eeveritv nmoncat them p The practical former must lend his aid to the veterinarian in order to furnish a satisfactory fu lut ion to questions propounded, such as Hie above for his own r-pecial benefit. i in the subject, Mr Mathews says: - "Tie; treatment of all diseases in this iinimal i .dislienlt, from the circumstance that, before the symptoms can bo noticed, the di-ease is generally too far advauctd. 'j'li" sheep is naturally gregarious, and, thouirh effected with the disease, it will ~!hie o Hie flock as long as it can. In p-storal districts, too, the charge of ilo iibi'phi'rd is spread ovoi a wido

extent lit land, so thut unless they Hfirrou:iif from flu' iv-i (if tin' (limit, li" is unlikely tn ii"tii:r them. " 'I'lii' nmi.-i! u-11:111v inll'lWed by the when ho di-covi'r.i mi animal 1 i I'm: inl with l-raxy, in ' r i uivr if a bri-»lf j run lin •vn-liill. ilii'ii ]>ull nut. hi." puck' t I knife, nri'l l>l>nl finm tlir jii'.'lar vein. 'I'lli■ (|II intity 11-11.lily ab-traeted i-it teaeupful, nl' p< ih ipH ii link- more. So tint tin; lit nl is mi thick awl pl-mtic. that, very little will rim from tin) mci-ion, though very <iften it is of no inconsiderable dimension-. lln then gives it h good 'lone of ea-tor-oil, generally about two wineglassfuls. Somi! prefer, in.-tead of cantoroil, large quantities of treacle, while others have faith in nothing but sugar, half dissolved in inilk or cream. The next tiling is, that Ihe animal dies in the course of a few hours. I never .saw more than one or two cases in which the animal recovered, and, in theso instances it is quest ionablo whether the disease was braxy or not. "I have never seen any other course of treatment followed, unless it be the omission of the bleeding, which is now more commonly the ease than it was a few years. This iH the course of treatment pursued by noli professional persons. I have never seen this disease treated scientifically ; but. surely a more rational mode thut the above might bo followed, I have had nooppoitunities to expei iicont, yet I may here venture to suggest that, along with a purgative, injections may be given to aid the action of the intestine*, and I think very beneficial effects will result from their use. Of course 1 will not recommend bleeding, but a teaspoonful of liqaid ammonia largely diluted, or 3i. or the carbonuto, may be beuefically administed ; it would tend to the liquefaction of the bloed, also act as a stimulant to arouse the animal from its stupor."