THE
FLOCKM ASTER’S COMPANION,
1 AND
SHEPHERD’S GUIDE:
CONTAINING
THE PARTICULARS AND DESCRIPTION OF
THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OF SHEEP,
WITH THEIR TREATMENT
DURING LAMBING AND OTHER SEASONS OF THE TEAR ;
VALUABLE RECIPES,
l AND
BEST METHOD OF MANAGEMENT.
BY A PRACTICAL SHEPHERD.
THIRD EDITION, CORRECTED AND ENLARCED.
ROYSTON :
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY J. WARREN.
LONDON :
WHITTAKER & 00.; LONGMAN & CO.; RIDGWAY ; BARTLETT.
M.DCCC.XLYI.
PREFACE TO THIS EDITION.
In sending out a Third Edition of “ The Flock-
master’s Companion,” the publisher desires to
express his thanks for the patronage bestowed on
previous [editions of the work. The corrections
and improvements in the ensuing work are nu-
merous, which will be evident to those who com-
pare the editions. The work is a valuable pocket
companion to all who interest themselves in that
useful and valuable animal, the Sheep.
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
The following Practical Work having been pre-
sented to the publisher by a Practical Shepherd,
and it having been read and sanctioned by several
Flockmasters and Agriculturists, he is induced to
publish it, believing that the Practical Knowledge
it will impart to the Shepherd and Flockmaster, as
to the management of that important part of Stock,
will be of more value than a hundred times the
price of the work.
The value of Sheep appears to have been appre-
ciated, and consequently the cultivation and ma-
nagement of them studied, ever since the first
formation of man, as will appear by Ancient Scrip-
tural History, Gen. iv. 4. Ever since that time we
find that various attempts have been made with
success to improve their breed, which serves to
prove that they are to the Farmer a most valuable
part of his Stock. This we need not doubt, when
we consider in the first place, the manure they
produce to the land ; the value of their fleece and
skins ; the provision their flesh makes for the
family ; the value of them, and also of their lambs,
to the Farmer at market, is of no small importance.
Formerly, butter and cheese were made of their
milk, though now obsolete ; these, with other
valuable properties, pertain to the sheep, and all
produced comparatively at little expense, as the
food collected in the field would be, were they not
to be led over it, worth but little, the sheep biting
closer than the ox ; he was destined to live where
the other would starve ; he was designed in many
places to follow the other, and to gather sufficient
nourishment where the ox would be unable to crop
a single blade. Two purposes are answered by
this: all the nutriment that the land produces is
gathered from it, and the pasture is made to pro-
duce more herbage than by any other means it
could be forced to do, as the sheep by his close
bite not only loosens the roots of the grass, and
disposes them to spread, but by cutting off the
short suckers and sproutings — a wise provision of
nature — causes the plant to throw out fresh, more
numerous, and stronger ones, and thus improves
and increases the value of the crop. Nothing will
more expeditiously or effectually make a thick per-
manent pasture than its being occasionally and
closely eaten down by sheep.
The reader may probably notice the plain and
common expressions used in the following work ;
but as it emanated from the pen of a Practical
Shepherd, such plainness will probably be most
readily excused, and when it is considered that the
work is intended for plain and practical persons, it
will most likely be more acceptable on that account.
CONTENTS
Introduction 13
Usual Names... 14
Age by the Teeth 14
Ijrrowtn
Different Breeds and Sorts
XU
16
Long Woolled Sorts.
Cambridgeshire .
19
Lincolnshire
Devonshire
19
Norfolk
Gloucestershire .
20
Sussex or South Down
. 18
Huntingdonshire .
19
Teeswater
17
Leicestershire . . .
19
Yorkshire
. 17
Short Woolled Sorts.
Berkshire
21
Norfolk
. 20
Buckinghamshire
22
Nottinghamshire
04
Cheviot Hills . . .
24
Oxfordshire
Cornwall
23
Portland
. 22
Dorsetshire
22
Shropshire
Exmoor
23
Somersetshire
. 23
Hampshire
21
Suffolk
Herefordshire . • .
23
Sussex or South Down
. 20
Hertfordshire . - .
22
Westmorland
. 24
Merino'
25
Wiltshire
. 21
Middlesex
22
’Worcestershire
. 24
Monmouthshire .
23
Remarks
. 25
26
97
Putting the Ram to the Ewe 28
Keeping the Ewes whilst with Lamb 28
The Lambing Season 29
viii
PAGE
Natural Presentations .... 30
Unnatm'al Presentations . . 31
Cautions 33
After-pains or Heaving . . 34
Bastard Lambs 35
Castrating Lambs 36
Castrating old Rams
PAGE
Dropping of Lambs 35
Falling down of the Uterus 35
Supporting the Ewes and
Lambs 37
Weaning the Lambs 38
Observations 38
39
Diseases and their Cure.
Affections of the Legs, or
Cramp 57
Affections of the Lungs,
or Consumption .... 59
Bleeding 39
Blood-striking or Resp . . 41
Braxy or Bowel Sickness . . 42
Catarrhal Fever 43
Contagious Scour 50
Convulsive Staggers .... 60
Dropsy 49
Epidemic 56
Flies or Maggots 68
Foot Rot 55
Goggles 63
Gonorrhoea 73
Hooze, or Chronic Cough.. 61
Hoven or Blown 64
Hydrocephalus, or Dropsy
of the Brain 61
Indigestion 47
Inflammation 70
Inflammatory Catarrh or
Cold 70
Leaping Affections of the
Head, or Paralysis.. 44
Ophthalmia or Blindness 52
Red Water 39
Rot 74
Cautions 80
Scab 65
Simple Discharges 52
Sore Heads 67
Sore or Inflamed Udders. . 69
Tag or Belt 72
Ulcerated swelling of the
Legs 57
Vermin affecting the Skin 72
Wasting 58
Wild-fire 71
Worms in the Frontal Si-
nuses 54
Wounds External 54
Yellows or Jaundice .... 48
Poisonous Shrubs or Weeds 80
Diseases of Lambs 80
Costiveness 82
Diarrhoea, or Scouring . . 81
Megrims 83
Rickets 83
Staggers 82
Stiff Joints 83
Mercurial Ointment 83
Shearing or Clipping 85
Marking or Branding 86
The Shepherd 87
The Shepherd’s Dog 87
THE
ELOCKMASTER’S COMPANION,
AND
SHEPHERD’S GUIDE.
INTRODUCTION.
The Sheep is naturally a harmless and timid
animal : a Lamb is always considered an emblem
of innocence. They are of considerable value and
importance to mankind ; as the flesh affords very
nutritious food, and the skin and wool support
many of the most useful arts and manufactures of
the country. They appear in the more early
states of society, to have been domesticated chiefly
for the use of their skin and fleece ; but at the pre-
sent day they serve for many other useful purposes
— not the least important of which is the manuring
of the soil, thereby producing greater advantage to
the farmer in his more luxuriant crops of corn.
The sheep belongs to the class of ruminant ani-
mals which chew their cud ; there are numerous
varieties and sorts, and in their generic character
they are known as with or without horns, in the
present day however they are generally without
horns. The horns are hollow, wrinkled, and are
turned backwards, or intorted, in a spiral manner.
B
14
USUAL NAMES.
The young male, while sucking and following
the ewe, has the title of tup-lamb and sometimes ■
pur-lamb ; when taken from the ewe it is called a
hog-tup, liogget, lamb-hog, or teg ; when shorn and
about a year and a half old, it is called a shearing,
shearling, shear-hog, &c. — when shorn twice, a two-
shear ram, &c. — when shorn thrice, a three-shear
ram, &c. — and so on according to the shearing;
when castrated, while sucking, it is called a wether
lamb, afterwards until shorn, a wether hog, and then,
a shearing, &c. In some places wether lambs are
called heeders, in contradistinction to the females,
which are called sheeders. A ram is also known by
the ancient name of tup.
The young female whilst sucking, is called a
gimmer or ewe lamb ; after it is weaned, a gimmer or
ewe hog, a teg or sheeder ewe ; after shearing, it is
called a shearing ewe or gimmer, a theave, double-
toothed ewe or teg ; after twice shearing, a two
shear or four tooth ewe or theave, and so on, after
each shearing. In some places an old ewe is
called crone or drape and various other names
according to the custom of the country.
AGE BY THE TEETH.
The age of sheep is not reckoned from the time
that they are dropped, but from the first shearing,
although the first year may thus include fifteen or
sixteen months, and sometimes more.
When there is doubt about the age of a sheep,
recourse is had to the teeth, for there is even more
uncertainty about the hom in homed sheep than
there is in cattle ; and ewes that have been bred
from early, will always, according to the rings on
the horn, although of the same age, appear a year
15
older than others that have been longer kept from
the ram.
It is well known that a lamb three months old
has eight small or lambs’ teeth ; at one year old,
two of those fall out, and are replaced by larger or
sheeps’ teeth ; at two years old, two more fall out
(one on each side of the other two) and are replaced-,
at three years old two more, and at four years old,
the remaining two ; it is then said to be full-mouth-
ed, and is considered to be in its prosperity.
The careless examiner may sometimes be deceiv-
ed with regard to the four-year-old mouth. He
will see the teeth perfectly developed — no diminu-
tive ones at the sides, and the mouth apparently
full : and then, without giving himself the trouble
of counting teeth, he may conclude that the sheep
is five years old. In this case a process of displace-
ment, as well as of diminution, has taken place, — the
remaining outside milk teeth are not only shrunk
to less than a fourth of their original size, but the
four-year-old teeth have grown before them and
perfectly conceal them, unless the mouth is com-
pletely opened.
After the permanent teeth have all appeared,
and are full grown, there is no criterion as to the
age of the sheep. In some cases the teeth remain
sound for two or three years, and then at different
intervals, they begin to loosen or fall out, or are
broken off on eating hard food because of their nat-
ural slenderness. The Swedish turnip although
excellent food for sheep, is productive of more bro-
ken-mouthed sheep than any other kind of food.
It is difficult to correctly assign the natural age
of sheep, as there will often be very considerable
difference in the teeth of the hogs or the one shears ;
in some measure to be accounted for by a difference
B 2
16
in the time of lambing, and likewise by the general !
health and vigour of the animal. There is also a
material difference in different flocks attributable ,
to the good or bad keep they may have had. Sheep
well kept will take the start of others that have been
badly kept or half starved, and renew their teeth
much sooner. Sheep generally live and thrive well
until about ten years old, and they live sometimes i
to a much greater age ; but the fleece will then be-
gin to decrease in value as well as the sheep.
GROWTH OF SHEEP.
The growth of sheep continues to advance till at
least three years old; it is then generally considered
in its most proper state for the grazier, though it is
employed in this way till a much later period, (even
till five or six years old,) particularly with a view
of breeding ; but an early maturity is a property of
much consequence, especially to the grazier.
'
DIFFERENT BREEDS & SORTS.
To make any attempt to trace the origin of the
domestic sheep would be endless and useless. Nat-
uralists of the greatest ability assert, (but without
sufficient proof) that the wild sheep of Russia and
Siberia, are the parent stock of the various kinds
of this animal that are scattered over and dispersed
about the globe. They have much variety not only
as they are long and short woolled, but in many
other particulars which greatly interest the grazier
and dealers in the fleecy produce in general. Every
farmer would wish to have that kind of sheep that
is most productive and suitable to his farm ; a thing
which requires much consideration. A large sheep
requires more keep than a small one. Some soils
17
suit the large sorts very well, others the small
sorts. The most profitable kind generally is the
half bred South Down. In many counties they are
highly valued for folding or penning on the land.
When sheep are required for penning on the land,
a sort should be chosen which will “ stand the fold
well,” as it is termed. The crossing of the different
breeds of sheep has made great improvements in all
kinds ; but still greater may be made,
LONG WOOLLED SORTS.
There are many kinds of long woolled sheep, that
differ much in their appearance and the nature of
their wool : viz.
THE TEESWATER
have no horns, white face and legs, the wool soft
and fit for many uses. Where there is an inter-
mixture of the new Leicester with them, the fleece
in the unwrought state has a favourable appearance,
but is often deficient in some of the most necessary
properties ; having the fleece long and hairy on the
breech part, and the colour in the pile somewhat
dark or dingy, but it has the favourable property
of length of staple, which renders it suitable for the
purpose of combing, and forming the coarser sorts
of woollen manufacture. In the uncrossed state the
wool is mostly of good length, and well adaped for
the above mentioned purposes.
THE YORKSHIRE
are without horns, with white face and legs. Their
fleece is lighter than that of the Teeswater, and ra-
- ther heavier than that of some crosses of the new
Leicester sort. The wool is fit for most of the
purposes of the coarser kind of worsted goods, and
b 3
18
being rather short is useful in most cases where the
shorter kinds of long wools are applicable.
THE LINCOLNSHIRE
is a breed of sheep also hornless, face and legs white,
and which from the nature of their situation and
keep, are capable of being favourably productive of
long wool of perhaps the best kind, and from which,
in all probability, the growth of such wool, first
took its rise, the sheep of this district having for a
vast length of time, supplied a fleece of great value
and importance to the manufacturing districts, for
woollen articles of the coarser sort. The long wools
of other midland situations were much later in rising
to anj degree of excellence and valuable considera-
tion. The true breed of these sheep is nearly or
quite extinct, in consequence of so much cross
breeding lately with the new Leicester sort.
THE SUSSEX OR SOUTH DOWN,
are also hornless, face and legs black, or in some
degree inclined to grey. By dealers fault has been
found with the unevenness of the wool, and want
of regularity in the quality. They are excellent
feeders, and the mutton is of the first quality.
Great improvements have been made in this kind
of sheep, but much more may still be done. The
cross recommended is : a true South Down ram
and a New Leicester ewe. The author lately saw
a cross of this kind which produced a most excellent
fleece, well suiting the manufacturer. There is also
but little risk of loosing your ewes while lambing,
the ewe having sufficient room to bring them
forth. In crossing the Leicester ram with the
South Down ewe, the rams are too large, and the
ewe so small, that it frequently is productive
of great loss during the lambing season.
THE NORFOLK
have no horns, face and legs white, fleece in size
and weight nearly the same as in the smaller sorts
of the Lincolnshire breed ; but the qualities are
hardly so good, as they live more upon artificial
food, or fuller keep.
THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE
have no horns, face and legs white, the fleece about
the same weight as the last kind, but less harsh in
the feel, and with a greater degree of softness, being
fit for the better purposes of the same kind.
THE HUNTINGDONSHIRE,
hornless, face and legs white, the fleece lighter, and
of less value than some, but applicable to the uses
of the coarser woollen kinds. It has been much
improved by crossing.
THE LEICESTERSHIRE
as well as the Rutlandshire, Northamptonshire,
Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Kent, and Rom-
ney Marsh sorts, have no horns, face and legs
white, with some slight degree of difference in the
colour of the wools, which are of the less heavy
long-woolled kinds ; the wools differ in softness
and lenght of staple, and some other qualities; and
are perhaps not so extensively applicable as the
Lincoln, but of very great utility to the worsted
manufactories. These breeds have been lately much
improved by crossing.
THE DEVONSHIRE
are sheep with this kind of coat, no horns, face and
legs white, and a greater weight of fleece, and more
20
applicable for some uses of such wool than others
of the same length and kind.
THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE
without horns, face and legs white, the fleece not
so heavy as the last, but very suitable for the same
kind of manufacture.
The preceding kinds are all very much improved
both in fleece and carcass, of late, by the proper
crossing that has been adopted.
SHORT WOOLLED SORTS.
There is a greater difference in the short woolled
sorts than in those that grow and afford the long
heavy wools, which require to be equally noticed ;
such as,
THE NORFOLK
with horns, face and legs black, the wool soft, pos-
sessing fineness to a considerable degree, and is
often much shed and lost in some parts before the
clipping season ; these sheep are longer upon the
leg, and very swift in flight when pursued. The
wool is considered valuable.
THE SUFFOLK
have horns, spotted face and legs, the fleece some-
what similar to the last in weight, but not so good
in quality. Useful in the manufacture of the coarser
kinds of cloth. These have been much improved
lately by proper crossing.
THE SUSSEX OR SOUTH DOWN
without horns, face and legs black. The excellent
properties of this breed have been brought fully to
the notice of the Flockmaster by the great patrons
21
of improvement in Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Hertford-
shire, and many other eounties. The most noted
variety is that of a Me. Glynd in Sussex, who is
supposed to have enlarged the Down breed, by aid
of the polled Berkshire tups. From this cross
originated the stocks of the Duke of Bedfokd,
Md . Coke, &c. The sheep are quick and early
feeders, and excellent improvements have been
made in many counties from this breed, by crossing
them with the larger and long woolled sorts.
THE HAMPSHIKE
have no horns, face and legs white. Their wool
has no particular properties that are very desirable
either to the dealer or manufacturer.
THE WILTSHIRE
have white face and legs, the wool for the most
part even and regular, with whiteness and softness
of the pile, and a high degree of clearness from all
sorts of dirt ; but in the fleece there is a scantiness
which is very unfavourable to the sheep as well as
, to the wool merchant, there being little or no woolly
covering under the belly and interior portions of
the thighs.
THE BERKSHIRE
without horns, spotted face and legs, the wool well
fitted for the use -of the cloth manufacturer in the
less fine fabrics, where a certain degree of thickness,
equality, and softness are requisite. Lately great
improvements have been made in this kind.
THE OXFORDSHIRE
differ somewhat in the size of the fleece and other
respects, as they are found in the north or south
22
divisions of the county, without horns, face and legs I
spotted, the wool inclining to length of staple and j
nature of the preceding. 1
<
THE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
without horns, mottled face and legs, and some
variety in the wool, which is rather of inferior
quality to many others. *
THE HERTFORDSHIRE I
the original of which is not quite extinct. If it
could be met with now, it might make an excellent
cross with some other breeds, and the fleece would s
well suit the manufacturer of the present day. They
were with horns, face and legs white, the fleece ]
mostly regular and even, with goodness of colour
and cleanness, somewhat soft in quality, which
tolerably fitted it for the cloth manufacturer. ,
THE MIDDLESEX
with horns, and colour somewhat like thfe last, but j
more variety in the qualities of the fleece, which is
larger and more suitable for some particular uses ;
but the breed is now extinct.
THE DORSETSHIRE ]
of the western district, have no horns, white face 1
and legs, a shortness, fineness, and closeness, in the j
qualities of the wool, that render it highly valuable
for those that manufacture goods of the woollen 1
kind. ;
i
THE PORTLAND 1
with horns, spotted face and legs ; the fleece is but
small, and the quality inferior, but suitable in some
cases to the cloth maker.
23
THE SOMERSETSHIRE
with horns, white face and legs, the quality and size
of the fleece something like the last mentioned.
THE CORNWALL SORTS
with horns, with white face and legs ; divided into
two sorts, one of which is rough and of little value,
whilst the fleece of the other is fit for manufactu-
ring worsted goods. The true breed of this sheep
is now very rare, which on account of its value is
not to be lamented, as the country is supplied with
sorts which are much better.
THE EXMOOR
horned sheep, with white face and legs, the wool
rather heavy in the fleece, in consequence of its
length ; a yellowish cast in the colour, but soft and
silky in its quality.
HEREFORD
and improved Ry eland kinds ; hornless, face and
legs white, the carcass well formed, the wool fine
and short ; and, owing to its closeness, it so effectu-
ally prevents the entrance of water, that it is never
wet through with rain, and scarcely so when im-
mersed in water for washing. There are no sheep
in this country capable of subsisting on so small a
portion of food as this sort. The fleece is small
but very valuable, it stands next in estimation to
the Spanish sort, lately imported. The quantity of
wool afforded by the improved sort of Ryeland sheep
is but small, the fleece not weighing more than from
three to four pounds. Much crossing has been
made with this breed on account of its value.
THE MONMOUTHSHIRE.
no horns, face and legs white, the fleece very small,
24
with a yellowish cast in the colour, and some de-
gree of raggedness in the coat, but fine and short
in its quality which makes it useful in different
manufactures.
THE WORCESTERSHIRE,
no horns, in general white faces and legs, the wool
for the most part short and pretty perfect, with
some degree of softness and silkiness in the feel of
its fibres, which is favourable to its qualities ; the
fleece is small, but it has been rendered larger and
more valuable by the proper intermixture that has
taken place.
THE SHROPSHIRE
as well as the Staffordshire, Wanvichshire, Derby-
shire, and Cheshire, differ; some are with horns,
and some without, their faces are black or mottled,
the fleeces small and short, but lately they have
been very much improved both in size and quality.
THE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
as well as the Lancashire, have horns, with white
face and legs, and the fleece is of a fair size. There
are different breeds of sheep in these districts differ-
ing much in their quality, as great improvements
have lately been made, much to the interest of the
Flockmaster and the manufacturer.
THE WESTMORELAND,
mostly without horns, face and legs black, others
horned, with mottled face, fleece not very large,
rather coarse and hairy in the quality.
THE CHEVIOT HILLS,
no horns, white face and legs, eyes lively and pro-
minent, small boned legs, and thin pelts. This
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25
breed has been much improved within the last
few years, especially as regards the form and fleece.
! The fleece has a great degree of softness and clear-
ness in the pile, that makes it very useful in manu-
facture.
THE MERINO
or Spanish fine woolled sheep. The males gene-
rally have horns, but the females are commonly
without. The wool is the finest and probably
the best of the fine wools of this country for
i the purposes of the clothier; its value however
varies considerably. The body of this sheep is not
very perfect in shape, the chest is narrow, and the
legs long, with loose pendulous skin under the
neck. An excellent cross might be made with the
Merino and the South Down, so as to improve both
the carcass and the fleece.
There are various other descriptions of domestic
sheep, such as the Cumberland, Northumberland,
Hardwick, the Welsh, the Irish, Shetland, Isle of
Man, §'c. §■£•. none of which possess any particular
qualities.
Numerous as the different breeds of sheep are,
it must be allowed that very great improvements
have been made, and that in some cases still great-
er may be made by crossing the breeds.
As the farmer has become acquainted with the
most improved kinds of sheep, the points necessary
to be attended to in breeding, next come under our
notice.
c
26
DESCRIPTION OF THE RAM.
f<
Beginning with the head, his mouth should be
small with thin lips ; the fore part of his face narrow
and rather long visaged ; his eyes quick, having a
lively appearance ; his ears neither particularly long
nor short, hut thin and sharp at the ends ; the
brow of the head fine and narrow, for when that
part of the head is too broad the lambs frequently
stop at the crown in yeaning, which causes fre-
quent loss of the ewes. There should be a small
piece of wool on the crown, called the topple, to
prevent flies from galling the head; but by no
means any wool on the sides of the cheeks farther
than the back of the ears. His neck near the back
of the crown ought to be rather fine, but to increase
quickly and be strong in the withers, and be well
filled with flesh on joining the shoulders, so as to
have what butchers call a good scragg. His shoul-
ders at the top should be broad, but rather round
and well filled with flesh, not hollow between the
blades, but well filled up behind the shoulder.
Strait in the back. Should be somewhat higher
before than behind, having a gradual descent. His
breast should be full and well extended between the
fore legs, pushing much forwarder than his knees.
His arm to the knee well filled with flesh, and the
joint below what is called fine. He ought not to
have loose skin on any part, particularly from his
under chop to the bottom of his breast. His fore
flanks should be strong, to hold up the belly, and
prevent his being gutty. Back broad, and full oi
of flesh. Of a regular breadth along the loins and
rump to the tail. Lengthy in his carcass, particular-
ly his rump. His tail should stand low, but not so
as to be goose-rumped, and well cloven so as to
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with wool quite down to the hock, which should
neither stand in nor out the twist or junction. The
thighs deep, wide, and full, which with the broad
breast will keep his fore legs open and upright.
The whole body covered with a thin pelt, and that
with a fine bright soft wool.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EWE.
The qualities of the ewe should be attended to,
as it has been the too general practice to take them
without much selection. They should be chosen
with great care, and at the same time bearing in
mind the nature of the soil they are going upon ;
this must be entirely left to the judgment of the
proprietor, as there is a sort of sheep that will do
well upon some land, whilst others would starve or
do bad ; therefore, for the benefit of himself, it is
best to have such as his land will keep properly,
and not have them too fresh in condition at the
yeaning time, as you will generally find that the
ewes which are in high condition are frequently
lost in such cases, from what is termed straining
after delivery. The proper shape of the ewe should
be as follows : — A small head, the eye bold, rather
short and thin in the neck, a good depth and width
in the breast, a wideness and fulness across the
shoulder, a broad strait back and loin, a deep good
barrel-shaped carcass, smallness of the bone across
the rump, small feet, joints short, the muscular flesh
full and plump, thin at the tendinous insertions, the
skin moderately thin and mellow, of fine texture,
and the colour being a clear red and white, the
fleece neither very long nor short, but a cream curly
appearance, being thickly set, the flesh soft, with a
sort of firmness in handling, the countenance plea-
sant, and the disposition quiet
c 2
28
PUTTING THE RAM TO THE EWE
is the next thing to be known, as great benefit arises
from its being attended to at a proper time and
season. The ram should be two years old when
first put to ewes ; the time of year for putting the j
ram to ewes should be well considered, and would
be best regulated according to the different situ- j
ations, and the nature of the keep which may be ]
obtained when the lambs are dropped, so as not to
have it deficient or luxuriant at the time ; conse- j
quently, in dry situations, and the grounds warm
and sheltry, the ram may then be put to the ewe
early with benefit, whilst in those which are open ;
and cold it should be delayed longer, to avoid the
risk of early lambing. The best time is generally
from the latter end of September to the beginning
of November, according to the situations as before
observed. The proper number of ewes for your
ram is about sixty or seventy ; but if it be his first
season, he should not have more than forty or fifty
ewes. The usual time for the ram to continue with
the ewes is about a month or six weeks ; a large
proportion however will take the ram the first week
or ten days. Be careful before you put your ram j
to your ewes to examine that they are perfectly
clean and free from disorder, as it has been known
that a whole flock has become afflicted with the scab
for want of this necessary attention.
KEEPING THE EWES WHILST WITH
LAMB.
Ewes lamb best and safest when strong and not
too fat, as being too fat is very much against them,
because when a difficult parturition takes place, as
straining or heaving, it frequently follows when
29
such is the case. It is therefore best to keep them
in good store order, but by no means let them get
poor and weak, as that is equally as bad as being
too fat. During the time of gestation they should
be preserved from all disturbances, and guarded
against accidents from dogs, or getting cast in the
furrows, or other places in the grounds. When the
keep is good and not too full, strong and healthy
lambs are generally produced. Choose a good and
dry pasture for your ewes to drop their lambs .in ;
at which time the greatest attention is required
from the shepherd, in case of wrong presentations,
when assistance should be obtained as early as pos-
sible ; and when one slips or casts her lamb, she
must be removed immediately, to prevent further
mischief. Sometimes great loss is occasioned to the
owner by this accident, which is not unfrequently
brought on by giving them unwholesome food, as
dusty and mouldy hay, feeding in low wet grounds
in the winter, laying too thick in the fold or yard,
and nothing will produce abortion sooner than un-
wholesome smells, frequently created by flaying
dead carcases in the very yards which ewes frequent.
All such things should therefore be carefully guard-
ed against.
THE LAMBING SEASON.
All breeders of sheep should be provided with a
suitable fold-yard for their ewes during the winter
season, and the time of bringing forth their young,
with a hut at one corner, for the shepherd, in which
should be a fire place, as the shepherd should be in
attendance at night as well as at day, during the
lambing season, in case of accidents, wrong presen-
tations, &c., which is often the case, and for want
of assistance both ewe and lamb may be lost. The
c 3
30
shepherd should also be provided with proper things
to make some nourishing gruel, if required, such as
the following : —
Take — Boiling- water, two quarts.
Oatmeal, three ounces.
Common gin, half a pint.
Powdered ginger, half an ounce.
To be made in the form of gruel, and when the
ewe is weak and much reduced, to have half a pint
two or three times a day. This is an excellent
cordial and restorative, and the shepherd having a
fire, can warm it when it is wanted. The shepherd
should also have in readiness some of the following
mixed oils, in case an ewe should get torn in being
roughly handled whilst extracting the lamb. When
that is the case, the sheep should be dressed imme-
diately, to prevent gangrene or mortification taking
place. The following oils will prevent it if applied
immediately: —
Take — Linseed oil, one quart.
Spirits of turpentine, half a pint.
Oil of vitriol, one ounce.
Tincture of myrrh, four ounces.
Method of mixing : — Put half the oil into a com-
mon brown pipkin that will hold twice the quantity,
then add the vitriol, and stir it up with a stick, and
put in the turpentine, then the rest of the oil, lastly
the tincture of myrrh, and stir them all up together;
and when cold, put in a bottle for use. When
these oils are used, let some be put into a cup, and
tie a small piece of sponge or linen rag upon a small
cane or stick, then dip it in the oils and anoint the
parts torn. This is the finest dressing that can be
used amongst sheep for green wounds, bruises, &c.
NATURAL PRESENTATIONS.
In all natural presentations, the nose and the toes
of the lore feet are the parts which first come
1
31
forward and present themselves. When this is the
case, the ewe generally lambs with ease and facility
by herself, although in some cases a little assistance
is necessary. Where the sheep are young, as the
shear-hog, it being the first lamb, the passage is
narrow, and some assistance may be occasionally
necessary ; but it should be done by a person who
understands such business, and with moderation.
Ewes should never be meddled with unless abso-
lutely necessary, and then it should be done in a
cool deliberate manner.
UNNATURAL PRESENTATIONS.
In unnatural presentations great care is requisite,
as the life of the ewe is at stake. Various are the
ways in which lambs present themselves ; the fol-
lowing are some of the most common, and the mode
of proceeding to extricate them in such cases : —
1. When twin lambs are in such a state as to
come forward at the same time, which is sometimes
the case, the ewe should be placed upon that side
where the lamb is least advanced, by which one
may be pushed back and the other lamb more easily
brought forward and extracted ; but in all cases, the
operator should not be too ready in lending his
assistance, but give the ewe time, as nature fre-
quently accomplishes what art cannot.
2. When the lamb presents the hind legs first,
which is often the ease, it is best to take the lamb
away in that situation, without attempting to turn
it, as it is quite as easy so as when it is in the nat-
ural position.
3. When one foot only presents itself, with the
other and the head back, put it back gently, and
get the other foot forward, then the head, and leave
the ewe a little while to herself, and she perhaps
will lamb ; if not it must be carefully taken away.
I
32
4. When the head presents itself with both
legs back, the head must be put gently back, and
the feet brought forward, one at a time, then all
will be right, and the lamb may be taken away.
5. When the feet present themselves without
the head, the feet must be put gently back with one
hand, and the head brought forward with the other.
6. When the shoulder presents itself, the ewe
must be a little raised, in the hind quarters, and the
lamb worked gently back with the hand, till you
can get hold of one foot, then bring it forward and
get the other foot, and lastly the head, then take
away the lamb gently, but don’t pull unless the ewe
is in pain.
7. This is a dangerous presentation, and re-
quires a skilful person to get the lamb away. In
this case the lamb presents itself double, that is,
with the side first ; it may be discovered by feeling
the ribs, the back, the belly, and by the soft yield-
ing substance of the part, and the falling down of
some portion of the umblical cord ; here the opera-
tor should endeavour to get the hind legs forward,
if possible ; this must be left to his judgment. But
if the hind legs can be got forward, it is the best
method of getting the lamb away, and which is re-
commended in all such cases, as the hinder parts of
the lamb are the smallest, and may be moved with
the greatest ease to the operator.
8. It happens sometimes that the lamb must be
taken away by pieces, which must be done with a
blunt pointed knife, and a small hook, which is
afterwards introduced to catch hold of the divided
portion, which is to be easily and carefully brought
away ; the hind part of the ewe should be a little
raised during the operation, by which it will be
performed with greater ease. This case requires a
33
skilful person, and the finger should be placed over
the knife at the time it is introduced, so as to pre-
vent injury to the ewe.
9. When there is a dead lamb, it should if pos-
sible be extracted, although, in some cases it is left
to rot away ; this is highly improper and detrimen-
tal to the ewe.
10. When twin lambs, it sometimes happens
that the feet of one and the head of the other pre-
sent themselves, which may be mistaken as belong-
ing to the same ; this may be found out by pull-
ing gently at the feet, as great resistance will be felt ;
then if the ewe be raised in the hind parts, with her
head held by an assistant to the ground, an altera-
tion will instantly take place, and the lamb which
presented itself with the feet will draw back, whilst
that with the head will come forward, and may be
taken away. Sometimes the hind feet of one and
the fore feet of the other present themselves ; but
in all cases it requires a man of skill and judgment
to undertake the operation.
CAUTIONS.
The natural position of the lamb presenting itself,
as well as the unnatural, is now described, so that
it may be easily discovered whether the lamb pre-
sents right or not. It is therefore recommended in
all wrong presentations that are at all critical, that
the lamb be taken away backwards, that is, with the
hind feet first, in which case it can be done with
less difficulty.
Observe, in assisting to bring away the lamb, to
pull in a straight line, but remember, when the
lamb comes in a natural position, that is, with the
head and fore legs, you should pull in rather a
downward direction, towards the middle of the ewe.
34
It is particularly recommended to use rams of the
more improved kinds, with smaller and finer heads,
in the breeding of lambs, as also not to let the ewes
get too full in condition previous to their lambing,
and to keep them on succulent opening food, which
will enable them to lamb with more ease and free-
dom.
AFTER PAINS OR HEAVTNG.
This is a complaint to which the ewe is very
liable, and it frequently proves fatal; it mostly
happens in ewes that are fresh and in high condi-
tion, and is caused by the irritation and contraction
of the uterus, as the same pain which nature causes
to expel the lamb, occasionally continues for some
hours, or even a day or two ; in which case the
parts mostly become inflamed, or mortification is
brought on sooner or later, according to the extent
of the injury the parts have received. It has fre-
quently been known that ewes in this state have
been kept alive a long time, the wind being in the
north, and they have perished the moment it chan-
ged to the south. You may also frequently know
ewes to be lost by removing them suddenly from
poor to rich keep ; though they have lambed with-
out any assistance, they are seized with heaving
and seldom recover. This sufficiently proves the
impropriety of keeping ewes too full during their
lambing; but from whatever cause this may happen,
the best mode of relief is to anoint the vagina with
the stimulating liniment recommended in this book,
under the name of Black Liniment, and administer
two table spoonfulls of the following when mixed,
three times a day : —
Take— Tincture of opium, one ounce.
Sweet spirits of nitre, three ounces.
Water, six ounces.
35
Some people for this complaint tie a band tight
round the body, and it may afford some temporary
relief, but at all times the case is hopeless.
FALLING DOWN OF THE UTERUS.
This accident occasionally happens after a diffi-
cult delivery. The pain is so great in consequence
of the fall of the uterus though the orifice of the
shape, as in many cases to prove fatal, if not seen
to immediately. This complaint is well known to
experienced shepherds; the parts must be returned
as soon as possible, and properly confined by means
of a bright wire staple about one inch in the square;
this is to be sharpened at the point, and forced
though both sides of the shape, and the two ends
turned with a pair of plyers, similar to a pig’s ring,
as this will keep it in its proper place. At the end
of a week this may be taken out, and the ewe
marked, so that after she has brought up her lamb,
she may be fattened, as it is not proper for such
ewes to have lambs again.
THE DROPPING OF LAMBS.
In some cases when lambs are first dropped, they
appear as if quite dead, then the lungs should be
immediately inflated with fresh air, which may be
done by opening the lamb’s mouth, and blowing
into it with your own, from which it will soon begin
to show symptoms of life. The ewe should then be
suffered to lick them, and let the lamb suck, or if
too weak, it should have ewe’s or other milk given
to it, being left in sight of its dam. When the lamb
droops or hangs its head, it is a bad sign.
BASTARD LAMBS.
When an ewe looses her lamb, it is necessary
that another one should be put to her, which is
36
called a bastard lamb. The best method is to
take the skin from the ewe’s own lamb, by slitt-
ing the skin with a knife from the under jaw to the
breast, and by cutting the skin close to the .ears,
turn out the head and strip it of the skin whole as
you would a rabbit, quite down to the hocks and
knees. Then let it be pulled over the bastard lamb,
and sewed up with a needle and thread. Put it to
the ewe and confine them in some dark place,
where there is but just room for them. It will be
best for the lamb to be hungry at the time of putt-
ing it to the ewe, and be sure that she suckles it
immediately, as by the lamb sucking it produces
an attachment from the step mother. It is proper
to* let the skin remain on three or four days, or a
week, until the ewe becomes properly attached to
it. They may be then turned out to the other
ewes and lambs.
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CASTRATING LAMBS.
The best time to castrate lambs is when they are
very young, not more than a few days or a week
old, although it is often done at a much later period.
It may be done at an early age with the greatest
success. In performing the operation some persons
slit the cod ; but the best method is to cut off the
end of it, the testes then both present themselves,
which are to be carefully drawn forth, one at a time
with the teeth of the operator. Little or no dress-
ing is required, as the blood is by far the best plas-
ter. The state of the atmosphere should be par-
ticularly observed, as dry windy weather is always
improper ; and also very hot weather, for then the
blood is liable to fester, stop up the orifice, and pre-
vent the discharge. A mild open day should be
chosen , 5 if a little wet it is no matter, for the blood
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37
is thinner, and at such times the lambs are always
found to do best. If, after the operation, the lamb
appears stiff, and the parts swollen, they may be
carefully opened and dressed twice a day with the
oils, mentioned in the preceding part of this work.
SUPPORTING THE EWES AND LAMBS.
As soon as the lambing season is over, and about
all the lambs drawn or castrated, the most particu-
lar points are over; the ewes with their lambs should
be put upon portions of warm dry land, or layers
of grass, where shelter is pretty good, and the state
of the food favourable, so that they may meet with
no injury from the severity of the season, or want
of good keep. They should be disturbed as little
as possible, as remaining quiet is of great conse-
quence, for by this necessary care and attention
there will be much less loss of lambs. It is also
requisite to have supplies of fresh early green food
of the turnip or artificial grass kinds, as by these
means the milk of the ewes is greatly promoted, a
circumstance of material consequence, for if lambs
are stinted at this early period, they never do so
well afterwards. The best way is therefore to have
plenty of rye grass, cole, rape, &c. ; they then go
from the rye to the water meadows, (if you have
any,) if not, to the layers, being constantly in hur-
dles, with plenty of room to fall back. You should
also have three or four hurdles with the slats upright,
so that the lambs may run through with more ease
to eat the tops of the sweet morsels, before the ewes;
by this means they will do well till they are weaned:
but you must be careful when first using fresh
food. If your lambs are in high condition, they
are apt to become affected with the blood-striking
or resp, which is very fatal to many lambs. It is
D
38
caused by the food being too firm, which forces the
blood beyond its natural flow. Bleeding is the only
remedy; therefore it is better to prevent it, and
that may done by not letting them go unto the food
with their bellies too empty, or letting them stop
too long at a time. When you find their bellies
sufficiently filled,flet them be driven into the fallows
a few hours, until'thc food has digested; after which
they may return to their food again, until night.
If this practice is adopted, in a few days they will
become habituated to the food, and few or no lambs
will be lost.
WEANING THE LAMBS.
This requires some nice attention, but is gene-
rally understood by sheep breeders, and requires
but little to be said about it. It is performed when
the lambs are about four or five months old, at
which time they are taken from the ewes, and con-
fined in a’pretty good pasture, and the ewes put
quite out ‘ of hearing, where they cannot disturb
the lambs. They will be a little uneasy at first,
but that will soon disappear. Their pasture should
be fresh and'good, F and the'lambs will then proceed
with their growth without receiving any check.
OBSERVATIONS.
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Having thus far described, as nearly as possible,
the different qualities to be possessed by the most
useful breeds, the various diseases and their cure
next demand attention, and which is the most
essential part of this work, for there are but few
farmers and flockmasters at the present day who
do not know the various breeds or kinds of sheep,
and which are most profitable to them, and suited
in the best manner to their farms or land.
bk
sm
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val
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39
it.
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ut
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st,
Lid
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3St
ire
3St
ew
ho
! P»
;ec
CASTRATING OLD RAMS.
By some this is performed by tying a piece of
strong cord round the scrotum, between it and the
body. This way is called twitching ; but the best
way is to take hold of the scrotum with a pair of
claws'or nippers made for the purpose, and sear
them off clean with a hot iron, until the blood is
sufficiently stopped. A little resin and some tar
may then be melted upon the part, and the sheep
shut up in a warm place for a week or ten days.
This plan of performing the operation has been
adopted with much success.
DISEASES AND THEIR CURE.
BLEEDING.
This operation is generally performed in a way
that can do but little good where bleeding is re-
quired; it is in general done by opening the angular
vein below the eye, but sufficient blood cannot be
taken there to do any good. The most proper way
is to bleed them as you do a horse or cow, by tying
a small cord round the neck, and the vein will rise
sufficiently to be opened either with a small phleme
or lancet. The quantity of blood to be taken is
from ten to sixteen ounces, or in cases of inflam-
mation until faintness, and if they fall from loss of
blood, there is no danger. After the operation, a
small pin may be put through the orifice, and tied
with a piece of tow, similar to the horse.
BED WATER.
This is an inflammatory disease, and very pre-
valent at the end of the year; whenever it does
happen, if l'elief is not given, they mostly die in
d 2
40
twenty-four hours. It is frequent amongst sheep
whilst feeding on succulent grasses or turnips, and
mostly attacks such sheep as are in best condition.
Sheep have been frequently opened that have died
with this complaint, and the following parts have
been found in a high state of inflammation, or more
properly mortification, viz. the kidneys, intestines,
peritoneum or rim of the belly. There is generally
a quantity of red coloured watery fluid in the belly,
found from the peritoneum being inflamed. The
intestines have been seen loaded with gravel or sand,
when they have been feeding upon turnips, which
considerably increases the inflammation. When-
ever the disease makes its appearance amongst the
sheep, whilst they are feeding upon the above sort
of food, no time must be lost in putting a stop to
so formidable a disease, as the loss sustained is often
very great. The symptoms indicating this disease
are the following : the sheep appears dull and
heavy, loitering about behind the rest, loss of appe-
tite, and the body appears swollen. On the appear-
ance of the disease the sheep should be bled, and
the following medicine given : —
Take — Nitre in powder, three ounces.
Epsom Salts, four ounces.
Bardadoes Aloes, one ounce.
Infusion of Senna, one pint.
Boiling water, three pints.
To be added when cool,—
Spirits of Turpentine, four ounces.
The dose about three ounces, or five table-spoons
full. Should many sheep die, it will be best to bleed
the remainder, and give the drink, repeating it on
the third day, and putting them into a bare pas-
ture for a week ; letting them have some sweet hay,
and a few ground beans and chaff. This plan will
soon reme dy the disease, and if a small quantity of
hay is given to sheep whilst at turnips, it would
wholly prevent it, by counteracting the wateriness
of the turnips : half a pound each, or even less,
would answer the purpose.
BLOOD-STRIKING OR RESP.
This complaint is similar to the quarter-ill in
young cow stock, and by shepherds it is called the
Black G arget. It is a fatal disorder ; it comes on
mostly in rich pastures or inclosed grounds, where
close feeding is practised. The Leicestershire gra-
ziers have often experienced great losses by turning
into clover in some counties where the soil is rich,
the Romney marshes in Kent, &c. ; they generally
lose about four in a hundred, and those in the
spring, when the young shoots of grass and natural
clover spring up and are full of juice, they eat gree-
dily, which often proves fatal. The approach of
the disorder may be known, as they will separate
themselves from the rest of the flock, and stand as
if in pain, appear dull and heavy, heave at the flanks,
panting or breathing quicker than usual ; sometimes
they drop down and die in a few minutes. They
seldom recover unless after copious bleeding, which
is the only remedy to be relied upon.
On the appearance of the complaint, you must
bleed freely by opening the neck vein, and let them
bleed till they faint or fall down from loss of blood;
when recovered give them the following drink: —
Take— Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Nitre, two drachms.
Ctistor Oil, one ounce.
Hot water, half a pint.
Let this be given as soon as you can get it pre-
pared ; but bleeding is the first remedy.
This disease is more easily prevented than cured ;
therefore great attention is required when the sheep
d 3
42
are first put upon the young grasses and clover, in
the spring. Also, where your turnip tops are too
luxurious, great care should be taken; or, where
the lambs are in good order, the loss may be great.
Therefore the best thing is to mow them down.
When the young sheep are first put to the spring
feed, you should not let them go too early in the
morning, or remain too late at night, as the spring
frosts are very injurious to them, as well as to all
cattle. They ought also, for the first ten days, to
be taken off the feed in the middle of the day, and
turned upon the fallows, or where the feed is short,
in order to allow them time to digest their food, as
well as more exercise. By taking these precautions
great advantage may be derived and loss prevented.
BRAXY, OR BOWEL SICKNESS.
This is an inflammatory disease, which quickly
terminates in dropsy of the chest or belly. It is
called Water Braxy. There is another complaint
called Dry Braxy, which is brought on during the
winter by eating dry food, such as the tops of bents,
aether, and other dry food, occasioning indigestion
or obstruction in the first and second stomach,
causing griping pains which often become violent,
with swellings of the belly, quick breathing, hang-
ing of the head and ears, sometimes standing with
the feet almost all together, at other times lying
down and suddenly rising up again, the mouth dry
and parched, the white of the eye inflamed. In
both diseases plentiful bleeding is necessary, with
the following medicine given internally : —
Take— Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Hiera Picra, two drachms.
Castor Oil, one ounce.
Ginger in powder, half a drachm.
Hot water, half a pint.
43
When milk- warm give it to the sheep, and horn
down about a pint of warm water after it ; this will
in general remove the complaint, if taken in time.
CATARRHAL FEVER.
This is not at all an uncommon disease, and is
sometimes extremely destructive to sheep, from the
early state of the lamb to the oldest sheep. Cold
and change of situation are very productive of this
disease ; it is but little attended to in some cases
until it is too late, and consequently carries off
numbers of those valuable animals, both old and
young. The lambs in many instances are very
quickly and suddenly destroyed, by too severe an
exposure in this manner, and the older sort often
become in a state of fever, are greatly enfeebled,
and at last so exhausted by disease -and worn out
by such attacks, that if care be not taken they fall
down and die naturally. This is easily prevented
by having proper shelter in the places where they
are fed or pastured, and whenever they are removed
from a warm to a colder climate, or the contrary,
they are liable to be attacked with this sort of fever-
ish state, which is highly injurious to them in many
ways, laying the foundation of glandular com-
plaints, preventing the proper thriving and health
of the sheep.
The appearance which indicates this disease
either in lambs or in old sheep, is a sort of fever
with cold shivering of the body, which is succeeded
by great heat, the pulsation quick and full, loss of
power, dulness and distress in' the countenance,
cough, a constant running at the nose, wateriness
of the eyes, and ultimately a wasting of the whole
frame, the sheep mostly creeping from the rest of
the flock into warm solitary places, losing their
44
general liveliness and getting at last into quite an
exhausted state.
To remove those fevers much more depends upon
proper management and attention than upon any
remedies that can be administered to the animals.
Therefore it is proper that they should be removed
to a more elevated sheltry situation, and the fever
may then be removed by the following means : —
Take— Calomel, two or three grains.
Antimonial Powder, ten grains.
Nitre, two drachms.
To be made into a ball with Conserve of Roses,
and given as there may be occasion ; in general
about two or three balls will remove the fever, after
which the following infusion may be given with
benefit, if the sheep or lambs are considered worth
it.
Take-Common Oak Bark, four ounces.
Colombo Root, one ounce.
Gentian Root, one ounce.
Infuse them in four pints of water, for two or three
hours, then strain it off, and add diluted Sulphuric
Acid, two drachms. A tea-cup full of this may be
given to the old sheep twice a day, and to young
lambs two table-spoons full twice a day. By such
means as these they will often be perfectly restored,
and the frequent losses which happen in this man-
ner may be guarded against and prevented.
LEAPING AFFECTIONS OF THE HEAD, OR PARALYSIS.
There appear to be two states of this disease, one
which attacks sheep in high condition, and the other
the poorer sort ; the latter is now scarcely known.
This disease comes on in the spring and towards
the end of summer, attacking sheep of all ages
and descriptions, especially where they are much
exposed to the northern winds. In severe dry
45
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springs, when the early grass is destroyed by frost,
and no juicy food can be met with, long continued
easterly winds favour its production. It is fatal
in many instances, and is thought by some to be
infectious, but others suppose this cannot be the
case, although it is a very destructive disease when
it appears among the flock; and certain it is that
when sheep are removed from a clean ground to
one that is infected with it, a great many of them
will die, and those which survive in one season are
sure to be attacked the next spring. On the first
appearance of this complaint, some will fall down
and die in a few minutes ; others lose the power of
one quarter or side, and lie sprawling till they die
for want of food ; others are attacked with a sort of
shivering, and are very sick at times until they die ;
some continue a long time lame, hopping about,
and carrying the limb so as to make no use of it
until it is quite worn out ; in some the legs only
are affected, in other cases it seizes the whole
body, when there is a general trembling and total
loss of power in the legs, the animal at last lying
constantly upon one side. The second state of this
disease mostly shows itself in the latter summer
months — about harvest time, especially in hot sul-
try seasons, arising from the sheep being put into
excessive action, or being ovei’heated by some
means or other, in which case it generally displays
itself in a few hours by a stiff neck. On opening
the heads of those sheep that die of this disorder,
the vessels of the brain are found tinged with blood ;
but the appearance is less the longer the disease has
lasted ; it is particularly fatal in some parts, such as
the southern districts, whilst it is scarcely known in
the north; but where it happens the farmer fre-
quently loses the greater part of his flock by that
alone.
46
During the presence of this disease, the sheep
turns stupid and dull, neglects its food, dozes round
as if the brain were affected, often leaps as if to
clear some bush or fence before it, at some times
eating greedily, at other times refusing all sorts of
nourishment; it continues to leap frequently, and
the neck is often stiff and turned on one side, con-
vulsive spasms come on in the limbs, which cause
the sheep to fall, produce curious contortions, at
times running a little way, then stopping. In
some cases the sheep becomes wholly incapable of
motion, a sort of lock-jaw takes place, and it perishes
for want of food : in others in which the spasms
of the neck and jaw are not so severe, after lying
motionless some length of time, a relaxation of the
muscles takes place, and the sheep eats all the food
within its reach, although the power of the limbs
is wholly gone ; the shepherd must then lift them
from one place to another, as they will eat all
they can get at, but it is best to take them home
and keep them upon nourishing food, and if a tem-
porary looseness should come on, which is an effort
of nature to relieve itself, they recover speedily and
gain their usual strength in a short time. Bleed
them plentifully, and give the following purge : —
Take — Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Rhubarb, in powder, one drachm.
Castor Oil, one ounce.
To be given in some warm gruel, not too thick.
By such means as these, this state of the disease is
in many cases removed. In more severe cases much
good may be produced by dipping the sheep in cold
water, and in less severe cases small doses in the
following form are recommended : —
Take— Nitre, two drachms.
Camphor, five grains.
Asafoetida, five grains.
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47
To be given in some warm gruel and repeated oc-
casionally. To cure the second form of this disease,
as it arises from oppression of the brain, in con-
sequence of too much blood being sent to it, plen-
tiful bleeding is requisite from the jugular vein, as
a sufficient quantity cannot be taken by any other
way ; the sheep is then to have the following drink
given to it : —
Take — Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Calomel, five grains.
Tincture Senna, half an ounce.
To be given in some warm gruel. Or the following
may be given, if more convenient: —
Take — Valerian Root, in powder, three drachms.
Sub-carbonate of Potass, half a drachm.
Nitre, in powder, three drachms.
To be given in some warm gruel. When the dis-
ease is too far gone, it is best to kill the sheep, so
as to preserve the carcase, which in this case is not
much injured.
INDIGESTION.
This is a complaint that occasionally happens to
sheep during the spring and the summer months.
When there is plenty of food, they are attacked
with pain and uneasiness in and about the stomach,
from the want of mastication and digestion, which
is commonly brought on by the stomach being dis-
tended, so that the animal is incapable of re-chew-
ing it in a proper manner, as well as from local
debility, which is thereby caused in the part itself
as well as the whole body by long fasting, over-
driving while on the road ; but in whatever way it
may be produced, it is necessary that it should be
removed as soon as possible, which the following
medicine will do : —
48
Take— Calomel, three grains.
B B Aloes, five grains.
Ginger powder, half drachm.
Syrup of Roses, sufficient to form a ball.
Give this to the sheep, and six hours after give the
following : —
Take — Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Ginger powder, half drachm.
To be given to the sheep in a little warm gruel ;
this should be repeated the following day if the
disorder be not abated.
YELLOWS OK JAUNDICE.
This disorder is apt to prove fatal, if not attended
to in its early state ; it is most prevalent in low
situations, where the food is of indifferent quality
or coarse kind. Clater mentions two flocks which
he knew affected; one flock was feeding on red
clover and the other on rape, where they began to
thrive very fast, but numbers of them were attacked
with the yellows, and many died. It is not easy
to determine the causes of production, but the ef-
fects appear in general to be to harden the liver,
and obstruct the passage of the bile from it into the
intestines ; this sometimes is produced by small
stones formed in the gall bladder, sometimes it is
caused by the swelling of the glands, impeding the
passage of the bile, which latter is mostly incurable.
Some kind of impediment to the bile seems to be
the cause, this fluid being prevented from flowing
into the canal of the intestines, the digestion of the
food and separation of the chyle from it, is not
properly carried on, the bile then takes up a dif-
ferent course, and is thrown upon the outer ex-
tremities, the body becomes tinged with a yellow
hue, the mouth and white of the eyes have also a
yellow appearance. The cure is to be attempted
by remedies like the following: —
49
Take — Juniper Berries, one pound.
Barbadoes Aloes, two ounces.
Turmeric Root, four ounces.
Madder Root, four ounces.
To be boiled in two quarts of water and one quart
of strong beer ; simmer them till about one pint is
wasted, then strain and give a tea-cup full twice a
day.
The sheep should be removed to a barren pasture,
so that they have to work to fill their stomachs, as the
exercise will in a measure produce digestion more
perfectly, and assist the medicine in its operation,
which may be continued for some days.
DROPSY.
This disease is incident to sheep upon all soils,
and in every climate, from the most northern parts
to the most southern. Aged sheep are the most
liable to it. It is sometimes depending upon other
diseases, or as a disease itself it mostly attacks sheep
in farms which are destitute of shelter. Towards
the end of harvest and in the winter season, it is
the offspring of wet and cold, and all such causes
as tend to weaken and debilitate the body. You
may know when this disorder has taken place by
the swelling of the legs towards night, which dis-
appears in the morning, then the lower jaw becomes
much swollen, the eyes dull, urine of high colour,
the tongue dry and parched, and as the disease
advances the body becomes enlarged, and water
may be felt undulating in it on its being struck with
the hand ; the sheep then loses her strength and
vigour, and becomes lean and thin. In the pre-
vention and cure of this complaint, the following
means must be pursued : —
Dry sheltry pastures and walks ; the sheep should
be housed and have a supply of good hay and other
E
50
nourishing food given them, with the follow ing
medicine : —
Take — Calomel, five grains.
Squill, in powder, five grains.
J alap, in powder, five grains.
Ginger, half a drachm.
To be made into a ball with honey and given at
night. Or a powder of the following kind may be
given twice a day: —
Take — Jalap, ten grains.
Cream of Tartar, one drachm.
Ginger, one drachm.
This may be given in a little thick gruel. As soon
as the water is removed, strengthening remedies
should be employed; taking away the water by
tapping has been practised, but with little effect;
killing the sheep as soon as the disease appears is
the best way, as they in general get worse daily.
THE CONTAGIOUS SCOUR.
This fatal complaint is generally known to the
store keeper. It is not peculiar to any soil; but
when it appears, it spreads most rapidly ; it is often
produced by improper management, such as crowd-
ed folds, and sheep lying for some time on the same
spot of ground without moving. In the hot sum-
mer months, when sheep lie upon the same spot of
ground until it turns foul, and the weather is warm
and sultry, the disease is generally produced; it is
greatly to be dreaded, for it is epidemical in a very
high degree, rapidly spreading from one to the
other, and from flock to flock ; so much so, that if
a flock which is infected much with the disease lies
between a sound flock, and the wind, (although half
a mile distant,) the sound flock will catch the infec-
tion in consequence. When the disease breaks
out, all Flockmasters in the vicinity have cause of
I
51
alarm, as their flocks often catch the infection, in
spite of all their efforts to prevent it. This shows
the necessity of particular attention during hot
weather.
During the first stage of this disease the sheep
become dull and dejected, loss of appetite with gri-
ping pains in the bowels, a slimy loose discharge of
their contents, gradual wasting and loss of strength.
In the second and third stages, there is a white or
green scouring slimy discharge of the more violent
kind, attended with much pain and uneasiness in
the bowels, the ears hang down, the pulse weak
and quick.
In the last stage of the disorder the lamb partakes
of it, which is said to be sick of the milk, appears
spiritless and dull, the ears instead of being upright
lying apart on the head, the breathing short, and
the purging of a yellowish cast.
This violent disorder appears scarcely ever to
admit of a cure. Plentiful bleeding should be tried,
and some medicine of this description given twice
a day : —
Take— Nitre, one drachm.
Antimonial Powder, ten grains.
To be given in some thick gruel. This in three or
four days will abate the fever, if given in the first
stage of the disorder; after which, the strength
should be recruited by nourishing gruel and suita-
ble food.
As little is to be done in this disorder, great care
should be taken to remove the affected sheep as
soon as the disease is discovered, and those not af-
fected should be taken to some elevated healthy
situation, lying as thin and cool as possible, and
watching them carefully, to see if any become af-
fected, as they should be instantly removed. The
e 2
52
sheep not affected should have plenty of salt given
them in their food, which should be chaff, and corn
at least twice a day.
SIMPLE DISCHARGES. . ;
Simple scours frequently come upon sheep when
feeding upon young and fresh food ; they require
but little description, as they are generally under-
stood and easily remedied by removing the sheep
into a more barren pasture, and giving them some
hay for a few days. Cleanliness is highly requisite
in sheep. They should not be suffered to lie too
thickly in the pastures or fold. A frequent change
of pasture or food is generally sufficient to remove
the complaint ; if that fail, a medicine is prescribed
below : —
Take — Common Oak Bark, one pound.
Ash Tree Bark, one pound.
Boil them in three pints of beer, and give the sheep
a tea-cup full of the liquor twice a day.
Or— Common Dock Root, two pounds.
Boil it in a quart of milk, and give a tea-cup full
twice a day.
Or — Oak Bark, four ounces.
Logwood Chips, two ounces.
Water, three pints.
Boil them and strain off the liquor, and add
Tincture of Opium, half an ounce.
Tincture of Cinnamon, half an ounce.
A tea-cup full to be given twice a day.
OPHTHALMIA OR BLINDNESS.
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This is an inflammatory affection of the eyes and
parts adjoining. It is brought on by different irri-
tating causes acting upon the weakened state of the
parts, from too great a disturbance and exposure to
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53
damps, and severe states and changes of the air.
A white film is produced which grows over the
eyes and causes blindness. Whole flocks are some-
times affected in this way ; it comes on at the end
of the year, mostly seizing such sheep as are in the
best condition ; it often takes place after washing
and clipping sheep, at the end of the season. It is
believed that after harvest it is produced by the
May weed or poppy that grows upon some lands,
and is left amongst the stubble. On the first ap-
pearance of this disease, the eyelids become red and
inflamed, throwing out a sort of ropy slimy mucus,
which glues or fastens the eyelids together, the
sheep soon loses flesh and creeps into dark shady
places. In the second stage, the sheep cannot bear
the light, the white part of the eye becomes red,
and waters a great deal. These affections, if no
relief is given, are succeeded by the formation of a
membrane by the inflamed vessels, which covers or
spreads over the whole of the eye, when total blind-
ness takes place ; this may be known by the sheep
running against fences and other obstructions.
In the cure of this complaint, plentiful bleeding
is necessary, and washing once or twice a day with
warm water; afterwards apply the following lotion :
Take — Sulphate of Zinc, twenty grains.
Tincture of Opium, one drachm.
Soft water, one pint.
As soon as the inflammation is abated, if the slough
or film continue, it must be removed by the follow-
ing means : —
Take— Loaf Sugar, half an ounce.
Prepared Calamine, two drachms.
Make them into a powder, and let a little be blown
into the eyes once a day until they are well, or the
film be removed.
e 3
54
WORMS IN THE FRONTAL SINUSES.
This is very common with sheep, goats, stags, &c.
A kind of fly deposits its eggs within the flaps of ]
the nostril, which are converted by the heat into a 1
small maggot, whence it crawls up the septum nasi *
or partition of the nostril, which possesses less sen- 1
sibility than the other parts within the nose. By t
the direction of this unerring guide, they arrive at c
the frontal sinus. These sinuses are supplied with *
a soft white matter, which furnishes these worms f
with proper support. They frequently cause great c
pain and uneasiness, driving the sheep almost deli- 1
rious. Various operations have been performed ^
for the removal of them, such as breaking the horn,
trepanning, &c., all of which are of no purpose, as
little good can be done till they come away of their i
own accord, when they drop upon the ground and
bury themselves, until they are transformed into 1
flies. If any good is to done, the following is the
best plan: — Bleed the sheep by plunging a pen-
knife through the nose, when done bleeding put (
down the nostrils half a pint of salt and warm
water. This will often dislodge the worms, and
cause them to come away.
WOUNDS EXTERNAL.
These are common amongst sheep, from strange
dogs worrying them, driving them over fences, &c. '
When this happens, the wounds should be dressed \
with the following, once or twice a day, till well : — ]
Take— Tincture of Benzoin, four ounces. (
Spirits of Turpentine, one ounce.
Spirits of Wine, two ounces.
Oil of Vitriol, ten to twenty drops.
Sweet Oil, half a pint.
Mix them, and keep them in a bottle for use.
(
55
FOOT ROT.
This is a complaint well known, and needs but
little description. Much loss is frequently sustained,
in consequence of improper treatment of the affec-
tion. It is first discovered by the sheep walking
lame, most commonly with the fore feet, and some-
times all the feet are affected. As soon as it is
discovered, the affected sheep should be put by
themselves, as this disease is easily communicated
from one to the other, and sometimes proves very
obstinate to cure. When that is the case, bleeding
and a little cooling medicine like the following will
be of great service : —
Take — Epsom Salts, two pounds.
Nitre, three ounces.
Boiling water, four quarts.
When dissolved, add two ounces of spirits of tur-
pentine, and divide it into sixteen drinks.
The affected sheep should then be removed into
a dry straw yard or barn, and bled freely, and have
one of the drinks given to them, and the feet pared
down with a suitable knife, and dressed with either
of the following dressings : —
Take — Sulphate of Copper, one ounce.
Dissolve in boiling water, four ounees j and add
Spirits of Salt, two ounces.
Or — Sulphate of Copper, one ounce.
Dissolve in hot water, four ounces j and add
Butter of Antimony, two ounces.
The feet may be dressed with either of these dress-
ings every other day, and if very bad they should
be tied up in an old piece of cloth, and kept in a
dry place, which greatly promotes the cure. There
are various other remedies applied in this complaint,
such as Sulphuric Acid, Muriatic Acid, and Butter
of Antimony. These are generally used separately,
and must then be applied with a wooden skewer,
and the sheep treated as above.
56
Since writing the above, I have treated the disor-
der as follows: — well pare the feet, bleed at angular
vein of the toes, and apply the following: —
Take — Barbadoes Naphtha, four ounces.
Spirits of Turpentine, two ounces.
Spirits of Wine, two ounces.
01 origanum, one ounce.
Mix in a bottle for use ; this should be well applied
to the feet, and round the hair and hoof every other
day, keeping the sheep upon a dry layer a few
hours after every such dressing.
THE LATE EPIDEMIC.
This disorder, when it made its appearance two
or three years back, very much resembled the dis-
order last treated of, with the exception of the high
fever which accompanied the one and not the other.
The fever in some cases affected the mouth, and the
whole of the alimentary canal, as well as the legs
and feet. The disorder was more prevalent in some
districts than in others ; and, in my opinion, was
caused by the north and north-easterly winds, that
were so prevalent during the season in which it
made its appearance. It was highly infectious, no
doubt, from the rapidity with which it spread
through various districts, and from the extent of
its ravages. The best treatment I found, was as
follows : —
Take — Calomel, five grains.
Powdered Nitre, ten grains.
Powered Ginger, ten grains.
Given in some thick gruel to prevent the calomel
lodging at the bottom of the vessel in which it is
given. To be given over night, and the following
morning to each sheep, one ounce and a half of
Epsom Salts in some thin gruel, with a little pow-
dered ginger. This greatly reduces the fever ; the
Epsom Salts, with one drachm of sulphur added, to
57
be given at intervals of every three or four days,
and dress the feet as follows : —
Take— Barbadoes Naphtha, one lb.
Spirits of Wine, four ounces.
Spirits of Turpentine, two ounces.
Mix, and apply to the feet every day or every other
day, first paring away the rough or ragged parts,
and letting blood at the toe veins, and allowing
the sheep to remain upon a dry layer during the
day. Where the system is most attacked by the
fever, bleeding is proper ; this I do by taking about
eight or ten ounces of blood from the neck vein of
each sheep.
AFFECTIONS OF THE LEGS, OR CRAMP.
Sheep are but seldom affected with this com-
plaint ; when they are, it generally happens to those
which are kept in woodland situations. It most
commonly happens in cold wet seasons, and is
caused partly by the droppings from the trees.
Sometimes it spreads at once through the whole
flock. It mostly seizes the legs, so that the sheep
cannot walk ; the action of the nerves and muscles
is also quite gone. The cure is to give two tea-
spoons full of mustard twice a day in some gruel,
and if very bad, rub the affected parts well with a
flannel, and the following embrocation : —
Take— Tincture of Opium, half an oynce.
Spirits of Wine, two ounces. '
Spirits of Camphor, two ounces.
Spirits of Hartshorn, one ounce.
Sweet Oil, half a pint.
Mix for use. Let the legs and joints be well rub-
bed with this twice a day.
ULCERATED SWELLING OF THE LEGS.
The appearances are as follows : — a swelling takes
place at the knee, which soon becomes of a large
58
size, causing much lameness, so as to prevent the
affected sheep from following the rest of the flock.
Sometimes it begins at the head of the hoof, is of a
bluish livid cast, frequently small blisters appear
dispersed upon the affected leg, of a reddish colour,
and filled with a bluish watery-coloured fluid ; when
the skin bursts it leaves below it a loose flabby sub-
stance of the same colour, or rather darker. This
mostly makes its appearance in the hind legs first,
spreading to all four unless death stops its ^career!
In some cases this disease quickly proves fatal, in
others it lasts for weeks. People that are acquaint-
ed with it mostly kill the sheep immediately to pre-
vent its spreading. In a cure of the disease, the
following means should be adopted : — The affected
sheep should be taken home immediately, and have
the following medicine : —
Take— Peruvian Bark, one drachm.
To be given in a little milk twice a day, and the
legs di essed with soft soap and water, and a solution
of alum and water, and a little quick lime powdered
upon the sores of the affected part.
WASTING.
Young sheep are the most subject to this disease,
and in some instances it is very severe. It is con-
fined to particular districts. Where the land is very
dry, hard, coarse and heathy, in its nature and pro-
duce, the disease mostly attacks the best of the flock,
and although the sheep feeds in a very greedy
manner, it daily pines and wastes away, in time be-
coming a mere shadow. By the wasting of the
sheep, _ the disease has some similarity to the rot, but
it is directly contrary both in its nature and cause,
as it is produced by the pastures being two acrid
and parched, so as to produce an inflammatory state.
59
or a tendency to it, which is succeeded by a wasting
of the whole flesh and system, and great loss of
strength. Some suppose that the affection lies in
the bones, but most probably the affection is in
some of the internal lymphatic or lacteal glandular
parts, from the great weakness and emaciation which
come on after it. This is not a very fatal disease
in its nature, as it may be easily removed by the
following means in bad cases : —
Take — Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Common Salt, one ounce.
Nitre, one drachm.
To be dissolved in half a pint of warm water and
sweetened with sugar or treacle. Give to each
sheep a dose once a day for three successive days,
and they will soon recover. In some cases a change
of pasture will cure without any medicine whatever,
and the sheep generally become the healthiest and
best of the flock.
AFFECTIONS OF THE LUNGS, WASTING,
OR CONSUMPTION.
Sheep are very subject to an affection of the
lungs, by which they become very much distressed
and reduced, being troubled with a kind of hacking
hoozing cough, great difficulty in breathing, but
little disposition to feed, and a continual wasting of
the body. On examination of the sheep after death,
we find the lungs diseased in different ways ; in
general, very much decayed, and sometimes wholly
destroyed. In the cellular substance, there are
generally many round white knots of different sizes,
and the parts are commonly swelled into sorts of
bags, which are filled with a white purulent mat-
ter. Some of these bags are large, and the side of
60
the lungs in which they are situated is nearly des-
troyed, a membraneous bag full of matter being left
in its place, which is sometimes coughed up and
which produces the difficulty of breathing. In some
cases, the lungs completely adhere or grow to the
side of the ribs. Whatever may be the effects of
this disease, the lobe of the lungs is most affected,
and generally watery collections are about them.
Nothing can be done so as to perform a cure in
this disease.
CONVULSIVE STAGGERS.
Such sheep as feed in forest or woody situations
are the most subject to this complaint. It makes
its appearance in the autumn ; but its cause has not
yet been properly ascertained. Astringent kinds
of food, such as leaves of the oak, sloe leaves, cob-
webs when sprinkled with dew, have been con-
sidered as causes ; but the disease is thought to be
caused by some poisonous herbs that grow in such
situations. The appearances of the complaint are
these : — the sheep falls down, throws its body into
various positions, sometimes rolling a long way,
when a general trembling comes over the whole
frame, which is highly convulsed and insensible to
every thing whilst the fit continues. Then it rises
again, and seems quite bewildered until it regains
the flock. The cure much depends upon change
of pasture, and the following medicine
Take — Nitre, one drachm.
Camphor, one scruple.
Opium, three grains.
Asafoetida, three grains.
To be made into a powder, and given once or twice
a day in some warm gruel.
61
HOOZE OR CHRONIC COUGH.
Sheep have been found in low situations affected
with this complaint, which is similar to the hooze
in calves, and is occasioned by small worms in the
branches of the windpipe. This complaint is slow
in its progress, and attended with a gradual wasting
of the body. If it is not arrested in its progress, it
soon forms an incurable disease upon the lungs.
Young sheep are the most subject to it. It is best
cured by turning them into a dry pasture, and ad-
ministering the following medicine : —
Take— Spirits of Turpentine, two tea-spoons full.
Sweet Oil, one table-spoon full.
Warm Water, three ounces.
This to be given in the morning, down the nostrils,
then let the sheep stand two hours without food.
This may be repeated on the third day for three
times, which will generally be successful.
HYDROCEPHALUS, OR DROPSY OF THE BRAIN.
This is a common complaint with sheep, and
appears to depend upon hydatids, a kind of ani-
mated semi-transparent bladder of water, with nu-
merous opaque spots about its lower part or neck,
near the size of a pin’s head ; these appear to be
the germs of other hydatids. They are found in'
the lateral ventricles of the brain, within the com-
mon sheath of the spinal marrow, mostly in one
cavity at a time, seldom affecting the contiguous
parts, unless the sheep should live for two or three
months. They are frequently found in the right
ventricle of the brain, sometimes in the left ventri-
cle, less frequently in the substance of the lobe of
the brain or in the cerebellum, and more rarely in
F
62
the sheath of the spinal marrow. When the hyda-
tid is in the right ventricle, and becomes of sufficient
size to affect the organs of sense by its pressure, it
produces blindness in the left eye. In this case its
situation is easily known. When sufficiently en-
larged, it operates upon the left ventricle in a great-
er degree, than the one it inhabits ; this is done by
its bursting and forcing the fluid through the septum
lucidem into the left ventricle ; thus the right ven-
tricle is relieved for a time, and the left is filled
with water, and common hydrocephalus is thus pro-
duced in it. The left ventricle is then more dis-
eased than the right one, and pressure upon the
left lobe of the cerebellum produces paralysis on the
right side of the body. By this we see the wonder-
ful provision that is made for sustaining the vitality
of the muscular system, for when one side of the
body becomes motionless from paralysis, there is a
sufficient quantity of brain left in the right lobe to
sustain the vitality of the whole body. After the
hydatid has burst, and discharged itself into the left
ventricle, the substance of the right lobe that has
been destroyed by its pressure is soon restored, and
appears healthy. If the sheep is killed early in the
year, the hydatid will be found in perfection and
the right lobe of the brain nearly destroyed. Some-
times the roof of the ventricle is not more than the
sixteenth of an inch in thickness, the parietal bone
very thin, with a small opening in one part. If a
puncture be made through the opening at this
period, the water will be easily discharged, and the
sheep cured. Shepherds in some counties perform
this operation with great expertness, by puncturing
it with an awl; others make an opening with a
sharp knife, when the bleb will present itself through
the opening, and must be taken away. After this is
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63
performed, the sheep should be bled, and have the
following drink : —
Take — Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Nitre, one drachm.
Ginger, a tea spoon full.
To be dissolved in half a pint of hot water, and
given when cool.
GOGGLES.
This disease frequently proves fatal ; it is highly
inflammatory, the brain being the principal seat of
the disease, which is caused by plethora, or over-
flowing of the blood. Young and old are subject
to it, especially when first turned into a rich lux-
uriant pasture. The symptoms of the disease vary
according as the membranes or substances of the
brain are affected. Lambs when first seized with
the goggles have been seen running about the pas-
tures quite frantic, till they have dropped down
and have been unable to rise, losing the use of
their limbs. In some cases, where immediate and
plentiful bleeding has been resorted to, they have
been known to recover. In other cases, where the
sheep becomes stupid and loses the use of one side
or the hind extremities, the disease mostly proves
fatal ; therefore but little can be done for them.
If any thing can be done, it must be plentiful
bleeding from the jugular vein, and the following :
Take — Epsom Salts, three ounces.
Nitre, one drachm.
Jalap, one scruple.
To be given in half a pint of boiling water or gruel.
This disease is more easily prevented than cured.
As soon as it seizes any of the flock, they should be
removed to a less luxuriant pasture, in order that
that they may have more exercise in collecting
their food. They should also be bled, and have a
little opening medicine administered to them.
f 2
64
HOVEN OR BLOWN.
This is occasioned by turning sheep from poor to ,
good keep, such as rich succulent grasses, clover,
turnips, & c. The complaint requires an immediate
remedy ; it will sometimes occur when sheep are
turned from the fold when dew is upon the grass ;
by feeding too greedily they overload the first sto- s
mach, and neglect to chew their cud ; air is in con- ’
sequence collected in that receptacle. From the ’
food fermenting, it produces most distressing symp-
toms. The sheep is swollen almost to suffocation, *
pants excessively, and if not relieved, lies down in
the greatest distress, and frequently dies suffocated.
As soon as this complaint is perceived, the flock
must be removed into a bare pasture and driven
about, which in slight cases will remove the disease;
but if it does not go off, and no other means of re-
lief are at hand, the operation of paunching should
be resorted to, which is done by forcing a sharp
penknife into the stomach on the left side, between 1
the haunch bone and the last rib. There is an elas-
tic tube invented by Dr. M onro, which is frequently
used ; this is forced into the first stomach, and gives
vent to the confined air. Some shepherds employ
a cane or stick three feet long, having a knob at the f
end of it, round which they secure a piece of linen,
with some hogs’ lard or oil, which is used in the 1
same manner as the tube. If thought necessary,
the following drink may be given, which will invig- 1
orate their stomachs, and prevent a fresh collection s
of air : —
(
Take— Epsom Salts, two ounces. ' j
Ginger, one drachm.
Boiling water or beer, half a pint. ■'
Give it when cool.
65
THE SCAB.
This is a formidable complaint, and well known
to every one that has to do with sheep. Too much
caution cannot be used by the farmer and grazier
in purchasing sheep from other districts to put with
their own flocks, lest any of them should be infected
with this disease, which would prove very trouble-
some. The scab was very prevalent in Lincolnshire
some few years back, more so than in any other-
county ; but it is now much less, as the farmers and
graziers in general dress their sheep once a year,
whether infected or not, it being considered greatly
to promote the value of the fleece. Different prac-
titioners have prescribed different medicines for this
disease, of which the following is the most useful : —
Take— Quicksilver, one pound.
Venice Turpentine, half a pound.
Spirits of Turpentine, two ounces.
Work them well together in a marble mortar, until
the quicksilver is thoroughly incorporated, which
will be done in about five or six hours. Then take
four pounds and a half of hogs’ lard, and melt it over
a slow fire ; when milkwarm, add it to the quick-
silver, and keep constantly stirring until it grows
stiff.
This is equal to the celebrated sheep ointment
sold by the druggists in most large towns. It may
be made good for fourteen or sixteen pence per
pound, and one pound will dress from seven to ten
sheep. If the sheep are dressed merely with the
view of keeping them clean and free from the disease,
one pound is sufficient for ten sheep. The ointment
is to be purchased more cheaply of druggists than
you can prepare it, as they are supplied with uten-
sils.
66
Method of using the Ointment:— Divide the wool
on the back, from the head to the tail ; then take
some ointment on the finger and rub all along from
head to tail upon the skin ; do it twice along each
side in the same way, then divide straight down both
shoulders and thighs, and anoint in the same way.
The good qualities of this ointment are so well
known in breeding and grazing districts, that they
always dress the sheep once a year, whether infected
or not, and it would be better if it was adopted more
extensively. About Michaelmas is the proper time
for dressing, -when the weather is dry ; if neglected
until the spring of the year, you mostly find your
sheep affected with the scab. This ointment pos-
sesses a great superiority over any other washes,
both in curing the disease, causing the scab to fall
off, and the wool to grow. It likewise promotes
the health of the sheep.
The author of this work once knew a gentleman,
who, through neglect, and not having a proper shep-
herd, let his sheep get so bad with this disease, that
many fell a sacrifice to it, and others he sold for
seven or eight shillings each. He then had one
hundred and fifty left, and what to do with them
he did not know, as they were so badly affected.
At length he applied to the author, who examined
them, and found them so bad, that he considered
the system altogether affected. He afterwards con-
tracted with the gentleman for the cure of the sheep,
which he did without the loss of a single one. The
first thing that was done was to bleed the whole of
them, and give the following medicine : —
Take— Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Nitre, one drachm.
Dissolved in hot water.
67
They were upon a grass layer in the day time,
and they were put into a warm straw yard at night ;
they had cut food given them night and morning,
with three pounds of common salt sprinkled, every
day, amongst them. This plan was adopted for six
weeks, during which time they had three proper
dressings with the ointment, which perfectly cured
them, and the sheep throve well afterwards.
For sake of variety, some washes are prescribed
below, which are used by persons curing the scab,
but are not so serviceable as the ointment, as
follows : —
Take — Tobacco, one pound.
Boil it in two gallons of water.
Sublimate, one ounce.
To be dissolved in the same.
And add— Spirits of Turpentine, four ounces.
Sweet Oil, balf a pint.
This mixture requires constantly shaking.
Or — Sulphur Vivum in line powder, four ounces.
Train Oil, twelve ounces.
Oil of Turpentine, four ounces.
This will answer in slight cases.
SORE HEADS.
Such sheep as feed and run in woodland districts,
are most affected with this disease. It happens in
the summer months, by the sheep being pestered
with flies about the head, which causes the sheep
to keep striking their hind feet against it, till it be-
comes sore ; when, if no remedy is applied, it
becomes dangerous. The following is the best
application : —
Take— Black Pitch, one pound.
Tar, half a pound.
Sulphur, half a pound.
Resin, two ounces.
68
Pat these into an earthen pan or iron pot, and
melt them over a slow fire. When united, take it
off and let it stand until about milk warm. It may
then be applied to the sheep’s head with a flat
wooden knife, and some short wool immediately
stuck upon it. This will keep on till the head is
well : the evening is the best time for putting it on.
THE FLY OR MAGGOTS.
This complaint ought to be well understood by
shepherds, or they are not capable of having the
care of sheep, for there are but few (if any) flocks
which are not subject to these vermin in the sum-
mer season. It commences by the sheep being
struck with a sort of fly, that deposits its eggs in
the fleece, which are afterwards hatched by the
heat of the sun and the sheep’s body ; they then
become maggots, which if not attended to, soon
prove destructive. The complaint may be known
by the wool on that part of the body becoming
moist or wet, the sheep running with the head
down, shaking the tail, &c. from place to place,
without settling to feed. The following mixture
will perfectly cure them ; or if more convenient the
Ointment used for the Scab may be applied.
Take — Sublimate, in powder, one ounce.
Spirits of Salts, one ounce.
Soft Water, four quarts.
Put them altogether in a stone bottle, and add;]
Spirits of Turpentine, one pint.
Fill a quart bottle with this mixture, and cork it
up, then bore a hole through the cork and insert a
goose quill. By these means, a proper quantity
may be put upon the parts affected.
The mercurial ointment used for the Scab is also
an excellent application. Every shepherd should
69
carry some in his pocket in a tin secured by a lid,
so that he may have it in readiness. I would ad-
vise him to do so if he values his flock. Some use
a lump of corrosive sublimate for the purpose, but
that is too drying and injurious to the fleece. Sul-
phur should also be kept in readiness to dust upon
the part after dressing them ; this prevents the fly
striking them again.
SORE OR INFLAMED UDDERS.
This complaint is common among ewes in the
lambing season. Sheep that have been well kept
are the most subject to it. Seldom more than one
quarter of the udder is affected, it being swelled
and tender, the milk curdled and diminished in
quantity ; the quarter seized is mostly lost, which
makes the ewe not fit to breed any more, she not
being able to bring up more than one lamb. The
shepherd should well examine the ewe’s udders at
weaning time, to see that milk passes freely, as by
pressure of the finger and thumb it is easy to de-
tect whether the udder be tumified, and the milk
not properly secreted; if the udder be in the
slightest degree affected remedies must be applied,
as suppuration or gangrene will be the consequence.
The ewe should be bled, and the following drink
given immediately after : —
Take— Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Nitre, one drachm.
Ginger, a tea-spoon full.
Hot Water, half a pint.
This may be repeated on the third day, and if
necessary, rub the following embrocation upon the
udder : —
Take— Sweet Oil, six ounces.
Spirits of Turpentine, one ounce.
Spirits of Hartshorn, two ounces.
70
Mix, and keep it for use. The milk should be drawn
from the affected quarter before you rub on the
liniment. Should the udder proceed to a state
of suppuration, it must then be opened with a sharp
knife, which will give vent to the foul matter con-
tained in it. The place should be kept open a few
days with a small piece of tow and hogs’ larcl, or a
few of the oils used for fresh wounds. The author
has been informed by an extensive flockmaster that
he uses nothing more than Spirits of Camphor,
which he well mbs upon the udder on first detect-
ing the disorder, and bleeds the sheep in the neck
vein.
INFLAMMATION.
We find that sheep as well as other animals are
subject to internal inflammation, during the hot
weather in summer. Those that are driven a long
distance to market, when fat, are the most liable to
it. The disease attacks different parts of the body ;
as the lungs, intestines, bladder, kidneys, brain, and
other parts. On the first attack, the sheep should
be bled until faint, or until it falls down ; then ad-
minister the following opening drink : —
Take — Castor Oil, four ounces.
Tincture of Senna, one ounce.
Warm Water, two ounces.
This will, in most cases, be found sufficient to
remove the inflammation ; if not, repeat it.
INFLAMMATORY CATARRH OR COLD.
Long continued rains and sudden changes of the
weather, are the thief causes of this complaint, by
the sheep taking cold. It is sometimes so severe,
that numbers are destroyed by it, and it appears in
some flocks epidemically. A wateriness of the eyes
appears, the nose runs, and is almost glued up with
71
a thick matter, which should be cleared away, or
respiration will be impeded. The sheep coughs,
appears starved, walks stiff, and eats but little.
Mr. White, in his Treatise, gives an excellent
account of this complaint, in two flocks that he at-
tended.
Formerly this complaint was but little under-
stood, like many others. In sheep that have died
with this complaint, upon examination, the wind-
pipe and its branches, and also the lungs, have
exhibited inflammation or incipient gangrene, suf-
ficient to account for death.
Treatment : — Bleeding is only to be depended
upon in this complaint. When it is first perceived,
bleed the whole of the flock to the extent of a pint
or a pint and a half each, and in severe cases this
may be repeated ; but once is generally sufficient,
if you bleed freely, and give the following drink : —
Take — Epsom Salts, two or three ounces.
Nitre, one drachm.
Sulphur, half a drachm.
Aniseed in powder, a tea-spoon full.
Boiling Water, half a pint, with a little Treacle or Sugar.
Give it when cool.
This disease resembles, and may truly be con-
sidered the Influenza in sheep ; it is highly in-
fectious.
THE WILD-FIRE.
This disease affects the skin, and if not attended
to soon spreads through the flock. It generally ap-
pears about the beginning of autumn, but does not
continue more than eight or ten days at a time, yet
such sheep as have been affected are liable to a re-
turn of it. In this disease, there is a sort of creep-
ing inflammation and spreading eruption upon the
72
skin, mostly confined to some particular part.
This complaint may be easily removed by the fol-
lowing medicine : —
Take— Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Nitre, half a drachm.
Sulphur, half a drachm.
Hot Water, half a pint.
To be given when cool.
TAG OR BELT.
This complaint is discovered by the sheep turn-
ing round to bite the tail frequently, and rubbing
it against gates or posts. On examination, there
are sores on the side or under part of the tail,
caused in warm weather from the hardened dung
sticking about the parts. This must be clipped
away, and the sores dressed with the oils recom-
mended for Fresh Wounds. Two or three dress-
ings will be sufficient.
VERMIN AFFECTING THE SKIN.
These are things generally known to shepherds.
They are very harassing to the animal, and pre-
vent its thriving. They are removed in a great
measure when sheep undergo a proper salving with
the ointment at Michaelmas time ; and when they
are much affected, the Mercurial Ointment is the
best thing to remove them. About one pound to
ten sheep or twelve lambs is sufficient.
Dipping of sheep and lambs at this time is much
practised, and is certainly an excellent plan, as it
cleanses them from scurf and vermin, and greatly
improves the fleece by promoting its growth. The
author of this work dips upwards of two thousand
yearly, and finds it more and more approved.
The cost is two shillings and sixpence to three
shillings per score. It should be done in July, tho’
73
some perform it at a later period ; but the earlier
time is preferable, as the dressing will prevent the
fly during the summer months.
GONORHHffiA.
This is a disease which rams are liable to, e spe-
cial^ when young. This happens in the rutting
time, on their first being turned to the ewes. The
ewes being very fresh and probably too many for
the rams, it may be detected by the swelling of the
sheath and disinclination to ride. As soon as this
is detected, immediate attention must be paid to
them, or a deal of time may be lost, and the ewes
may partake of the disease. The sheep should be
bled, and have the following cooling medicine : —
Take— Epsom Salts, three ounces.
Nitre, one drachm.
Dissolved in hot water and given when cool.
After the operation of the above, or within forty -
eight hours, give the following: —
Take— Balsam Copaiba, one table-spoon full.
Tincture of Steel, ten drops.
Given in a little warm water, once a day. About
three or four doses of the last will often effect a cure.
If the sheath is much swelled and inflamed, it may
be washed twice a day with the following lotion: —
Take — Sugar of Lead, twenty grains.
Sulphate of Zinc, twenty grains.
Spring water, one pint.
It will be proper to take them from the ewes
during the cure, which will occupy about a week ;
during which time the ewes should be examined,
and if any thing is wrong with them, they must be
treated in the same manner as the rams.
G
74
THE ROT.
This complaint requires every necessary attention
as it is generally fatal in a greater or less space of
time. If its progress be not arrested, it has been
supposed to be incurable ; but such ideas are alto-
gether absurd, and it is believed that there is a cure
for the disease, but it must be undertaken as soon
as the disease is perceived. ■ From the supposition
that nothing can be done for his sheep, the farmer
gives himself up to despair, and suffers his sheep to
die, without even trying to cure them. Nature
itself makes a resistance in some cases, and the
sheep lingers for two or three years, and at last dies
rotten. Where great loss is sustained in this com-
plaint, it is through neglect, as seven out of ten
might be saved by proper medicine and manage-
ment, for which proper directions are given in
another part. This complaint has particularly
occupied the author’s attention, and he has had
different opportunities of proving the efficacy of
medicine with proper attention, which has saved
many : some that have been bought for three shil-
lings each, have afterwards been sold for twenty-
eight each. This is a sufficient proof, and as soon
as the farmer perceives any of his flock fall with
this complaint, he should instantly get assistance
for the rest ; for if it is not attended to early, it will
be of little use. The cure entirely depends upon
being undertaken whilst the sheep have strength to
take the medicine ; but without strict attention to
keeping, medicine will avail but little. There re-
quires some care and management in this com-
plaint, and then many may be recovered.
The disease is most prevalent in wet seasons and
moist situations, such as pastures that are overflowed
or flooded, and it is no doubt caused, in a great
measure, by sheep feeding on such pastures: in this
way, the ova of the liver fluke ( fascolia hepatica )
•is conveyed upon the grass, and afterwards taken
into the stomach of the sheep with it, and they can
hardly be bred in any way without such ova reach-
ing the flukes, either by circulation or some other
convenient channel ; for such grasses not only pre-
pare hidus for the fluke, and render the liver of the
sheep diseased, but convey the ova or insect itself
into the body of the sheep.
It is in warm, sultry, and rainy weather, when
sheep are grazing upon such meadows as these, and
other moist lands that have been flooded, that they
contract this disorder ; and if any of them are taken
ill and die suddenly after feeding in these places,
there is reason to fear that they have contracted the
disorder, and this suspicion will be still further con-
firmed, if in a few weeks afterwards the sheep be-
gin to shrink and become flaccid in their loins. By
pressure upon the hips at this time, a crackling
noise is perceptible. Soon afterwards, the counte-
nance looks pale, and upon parting the fleece, the
skin is found to have changed its vermilion tint for
a pale red, and the wool is easily separated from the
pelt. As the disorder goes on, the skin becomes
dappled with yellow or black spots, the eyes losing
their lustre, and becoming white and pearly, the
eyelids being contracted or nearly obliterated ;
hence succeed debility and emaciation, which con-
tinually increase in those cases, and the sheep
generally die in a short time. Sometimes ascites
and general dropsy take place before the fatal ter-
mination. Those symptoms are mostly severe, and
are caused by obstinate purging. In the progress
of this complaint, the sheep become chequered, that
is, affected with a swelling under the chin, which
76
proceeds from the fluid of the cellular membrane
under the throat. In six or seven days after con-
tracting the rot, the small lobe of the liver becomes,
of a transparent white or bluish colour; this spreads
along the upper and lower sides, according to the
extent of the complaint, but it seldoms extends
more than an inch above the margin. In severe
cases, the whole peritoneum investing the liver is
diseased ; it then assumes an opaque colour, with
red dark lines or patches, and the upper of the liver
speckled like the body of a toad. Round the com-
mon bile duct and hepatic vessels, jelly-like matter
is deposited, which according to the attack is from
one table-spoon full to five or six times that quan-
tity. If the liver is boiled, it loses its firmness, and
separates into small pieces in the water, or remains
soft and flaccid. It is believed that such sheep are
much disposed to feed for the first month or five
weeks after contracting the complaint.
When the first stage is over, the flukes appear in
the pori biliarii and common duct of the liver, the
gall bladder, &c. At first the number appear small,
but as the disease proceeds they increase, and be-
fore death are very numerous : they may be found
in the stomach and intestines. They may produce
inflammation or dropsy, and perhaps both, some-
times terminating in abscess or hard indolent tu-
mours. When the rot produces abscess in the liver
or lungs, the animal will linger for some time and
at last die of atrophy or consumption, which is the
most common termination of the disease.
The mutton of sheep affected with this disorder,
when dead, does not stiffen, but continues flaccid
and cold, dissolving nearly all away on being boiled.
It has a watery insipid taste, the muscular fibres
pale and wasted; the fat seems to continue but of a
77
dead white colour, being brittle or shining with wa-
ter, and wholly altered in its nature, not melting
or inflaming like fatty substances in general ; when
thrown into the fire crackling and blackening to a
cinder. There is but little blood found in the sheep,
and that is pale and thin, more like water tinged
with blood than like blood itself, and the bones are
remarkably brittle. On opening sheep of this kind,
there is very little smell emitted, and when the skin
is taken off, which is very tender, the felt, as it is
termed, is quite white, and the whole carcase has a
dull leaden coloured appearance, and water is some-
times found in the belly. The liver is mostly very
much enlarged, sometimes to an uncommon size,
and sometimes studded with hydatids or globules of
water, which are also found adhering to the lungs,
and sometimes to the tallow. The small intestines
are of a blackish colour, and tender, (as if rotten,)
scarcely bearing to be handled, and the lacteal
glands very much swollen and hard. The lungs
are also much swollen in the early part of the dis-
ease, assuming a whiter colour than usual. They
are often marked with white streaks on the outside,
under which are to be found hard cartilaginous or
bone-like substances.
This complaint is very distressing as well as
destructive to the animal, and of great loss to the
owner, and although something may be done for
the relief of both, the disease may be more easily
prevented than cured, as there is no farmer who
does not know whether he has land of such descrip-
tion as will rot sheep. Therefore it is considered
to be principally the fault of the owner, for wher-
ever sheep are put they will generally feed if there
is anything for them to eat, and it is proper for the
farmer to consider the state of the weather, and not
G 3
78
suffer his sheep to go upon improper places: a thing f
easily prevented. It would be much better for s
farmers to keep their . sheep in a yard or upon an t
elevated pasture, and feed them upon hay or other
food, than to suffer them to go into bad pastures.
Sheep, in their natural state before domestication,
never inhabit low situations, but as naturalists assert
they are found sporting in their wild state on the i
rocks and mountains of Siberia. Those sheep are
considered the parent stock of our domestic sheep ;
they are also found in great boldness and vigour,
inhabiting the vast chain of mountains that runs
through Asia to the Eastern Sea, and the branches
it sends off to Great Tartary, China, and the Indies ;
they delight in the bare mountains of those parts ;
they are also met with on the banks of the Lena,
as high as sixty degrees north latitude, and even
propagate their kind in the cold eastern regions.
This is a good proof that low grounds will not do
unless they are dry. Wet food is in no way suit-
able for this animal, and we find that cold does
not hurt them providing they have food. Frosty
weather very much checks the rot. In salt marshes
the sheep will do well, as salt is a favourite food for
them, and they eat it readily. Therefore when
sheep have contracted the rot, it is recommended
that salt shall be given plentifully, which may be
done by cutting turnips, and sprinkling the salt
upon them ; they would be best given in troughs.
The sheep should also have ground beans or barley
once or twice a day, and salt may be mixed with
this food. If a little malt were given it would be
found a fine thing for them, but it would be rather
expensive. The sheep should also have some sweet
hay given them, and should be kept upon a dry
elevated situation for six weeks : this treatment.
*19
and the following medicine given properly, will re-
store the sheep, should early attention be paid to
them.
No. 1.— Take— Root of Squill, in powder, five grains.*
Submuriate of Mercury, two grains.
Rhubarb, in powder, one drachm.
Ginger, in powder, one drachm.
Mix them into a powder ; to be given once a day
in some gruel.
No. 2. — Take — Oxide of Antimony, in powder, half pound.
Juniper Berries, half pound.
Infuse them in three pints of ale; strain off and add.
Tincture of Bark, three ounces,
feinger, in powder, two ounces.
A tea-cup full' to be given twice a day.
No. 3. — Taker-Common Salt, four ounces.
Tartarized Soda, half an ounce.
Dissolve them in one quart of boiling water.
Spirits of Turpentine, three ounces.
To be properly mixed with
Mucilage of Gum Arabic, one ounce.
Then add slowly.
Nitrous ./Ether, one ounce and a half.
Sulphuric Acid, half an ounce.
Mix them into a solution, and give to each sheep
three table-spoons full, and repeat it on the third
day.
The sheep are to fast all night, and either of the
above medicines to be given in the morning ; then
let them go into their pasture to hay and dry food.
On the third day repeat the medicine ; this with
the food prescribed will be found of great advantage.
The following is another prescription, which is re-
commended by Clater : —
No, 4 .— Take— Nitre, in powder, six ounces.
Ginger, fresh powdered, four ounces.
Common Salt, four pounds and a half.
Colcother of Vitriol, two ounces.
Boiling Water, three gallons.
80
Stir all these together, and add to every quart of
the mixture three ounces of Spirits of Turpentine,
and bottle it for. use. Four table-spoons full of
this mixture is a dose.
Cautions . — The author will now conclude this
subject by reminding his readers, that sheep in their
natural state prefer elevated situations. Therefore
dry soils are best, especially when sheep are affected
with any complaint ; they should never be suffered
to feed upon low wet pastures that are liable to be
flooded early in the spring. If you in the least
suspect the pastures, salt thrown upon them would
be beneficial : about one bushel, or one bushel and
a half to the acre, which will effectually destroy the
ova of the fluke, and prevent that fatal disorder,
the rot.
POISONOUS SHRUBS OR WEEDS.
Sheep are sometimes apt to eat these things;
especially when short of food, or in winter, when the
ground is covered with snow. The yew is very
pernicious, and being green, it is very often eaten
by sheep and other cattle when short of food, and
if early attention is not given, death will be the
consequence. The best antidote is as follows : —
Take — Epsom Salts, three ounces.
Calomel, three to five grains.
Give in a little thick gruel.
The sheep may be drenched three or four times
a day with some salt and water.
DISEASES OF LAMBS.
These young animals are subject to a variety of
diseases, either from insufficient keep, too much
milk, or cold weather, allowing them to suck other
ewes, or giving them cow’s milk warm from the
81
animal, which is apt to coagulate and form a hard
substance in the maw, by which many good lambs
are carried off.
DIARRHOEA OR SCOURING.
This is a very destructive disorder among lambs
from the time that they are twenty-four hours to
about a week old, and many die within six hours
after they are taken. It comes on, for the most
part, when they are about twenty-four hours old,
and lasts about two days, in which time it often
kills five out of six, if proper medicines are not ap-
plied at the commencement. The disease begins
with severe griping pains and frequent purging,
and the lambs are very much blown up with wind
in the stomach and intestines ; and if the disease
goes on for some time without relief, the diarrhoea
becomes stationary, the purging accompanied with
a copious ejection of mucus of the intestines, with
griping pains, and the young animal daily pining
away. It is proper for the mother to have a gentle
purge or two of the following form : —
Take— Epsom Salts, two ounces.
Elixir of Vitriol, one tea-spoon full.
Water, half a pint.
Give this to the mother and change her pasture.
Then prepare the following and give to the lamb : —
Take — Compound Cinnamon Powder, two drachms.
Prepared Chalk, one scruple.
Carbonate of Soda, one scruple.
To be given in a little gruel. This is of sufficient
strength for a lamb from twenty-four hours to a
week old, and it may be repeated every four hours
till the symptoms are abated ; or the following : —
Take — Cinnamon, two ounces.
Opium, one drachm.
Ginger, one ounce.
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Boil in three pints of ale for fifteen minutes, and add
Carbonate of Soda, two drachms.
Let this be strained off, and, when cold, two table-
spoons full may be given two or three times a day.
A lamb six weeks old may have three table-spoons
full.
COSTIVENESS.
This complaint is often accompanied with fever ;
the lamb appears dull and heavy, and eats little.
Take — Epsom Salts, half an ounce.
Dissolved in a little water, with a tea-spoon full or
two of castor oil.
If the lamb is weak and does not take sufficient
support, it must have the gruel given to it, as direct-
ed in page 30, two or three times a day.
STAGGERS.
The most thriving of the lambs are affected with
this complaint, and it often proves fatal, especially
when they are about three or four months old.
Sometimes they are seized with a giddiness, fall
down and cannot get up again without help. Some-
times they appear convulsed, and very much dis-
tressed. Lambs have been opened that have been
killed while in this way, when the blood vessels
about the brain have appeared a little tinged and
distended with blood, more so than in health. In
this complaint, it is proper to bleed, and give the
following purge : —
Take — Epsom Salts, one ounce.
Elizir of Vitriol, half a drachm.
Hot Water, two ounces.
To be given when cool. After the operation of
this medicine, give the following ball, and keep the
lamb under shelter : —
Take — Calomel, four grains.
Gentian, half a drachm.
Syrup, enough to make a ball.
83
MEGRIMS.
This disease proceeds from breeding repeatedly
from the same kind or family of sheep. When first
attacked with this complaint, they run in a sort of
canter about the pastures with their tails cocked,
and if the hand be put upon the loin or back, they
instantly sink down, which shows that the disorder
is in the back. When sheep appear to be once
affected with this disorder, it is dangerous to breed
with them, as great loss is sometimes the result.
THE RICKETS.
This disease is something like the last, and
nothing can be done except changing the breed of
sheep. When they become rickety, it is the best
plan to kill them.
STIFF JOINTS.
Sometimes lambs are affected with a stiffness in
the joints about the middle of summer. It is caused
by the impoverished state of the ewes, or change of
temperature, in consequence of which they are
stunted at the time they are disposed to grow ; by
which means their joints swell and become painful
and stiff, but they generally recover.
MERCURIAL OINTMENT;
ITS USES, AND ABUSES.
This' valuable dressing very frequently becomes
much abused ; sometimes by the indiscretion of the
preparer, and in others by the misconduct of the
user. As regards the preparer, he is placed in an
awkward situation sometimes ; but to put himself
upon a sure basis, the only plan is to prepare a
genuine article, regardless of the price and his
84
profits, — as in such cases the consumer will not be
disappointed, and the sale will be constant. G ood
ointment cannot at this time be made for less
than one shilling and sixpence per pound ; I have
known it to cost from one and nine-pence to two
and three-pence. The quicksilver is killed by
friction in rubbing in the mortar, and it must be
done by manual labour, without the addition of
corrosive sublimate, muriatic acid, &c. It should
also be mixed with lard, and not common kitchen
stuff and horse grease ; requiring more bees’ wax
to make it to the proper consistence, the value of
which might suffice for the purchase of the proper
article. The ointment made with those pernicious
ingredients is of a dark brown colour, and a rough-
ness is very perceptible on rubbing it between the
finger and thumb. The use of such an article is
dangerous, especially if the weather is hot ; it also
stains the fleece with a dirty brown. The best
ointment is soft and smooth on rubbing between
the finger and thumb ; it is of a delicate pale blue,
slightly staining the wool of the same colour. A
good article used in my neighbourhood is prepared
by Matthews and Son, of Royston. Two pounds
to two pounds and a half of ointment 'will suffice for
the first dressing of a score of sheep ; if the sheep
should be very bad, they will require another dress-
ing in about a fortnight or so, when one pound and
a half will be sufficient for a score, and the cure will
be undoubtedly completed.
I have seen a case lately, where an excessive use
of this article had produced salivation and even
death ; for the proprietor lost eleven out of eighty.
The quantity used was five pounds to the score.
I immediately set to work and gave to the other
sixty-nine the following: —
Sulphur, one pound.
Skimmed milk, four quarts.
85
The above were well mixed and divided into six-
teen doses ; one was given to each sheep, and
repeated each day for three days. The effects
of the poison or salivation appeared completely
removed, and the sheep all prospered. I would
recommend the above treatment in all cases where
too extensive an use of the ointment has been made,
giving linseed gruel twice a day for a week.
SHEARING OR CLIPPING.
Although this is a practice that is performed once
a year or oftener, at the option of the proprietor,
great caution should be used at the time when it is
done, or great mischief may accrue, such as violent
colds, fevers, &c., from being too suddenly exposed
to the cold in some seasons of the year, and the
wind in a northerly direction. Housing for a few
nights in such cases is necessary, as well as when
the sun is too scorching, for the sheep are apt to
get burnt upon the back, causing a disagreeable
sensation to them. This may be known by the
dropping of the back of the sheep when walking
along, going upon the knees, ike., causing great
pain and loss of flesh, the skin cracking all along
the back, followed by fever, &c. An ichorous dis-
charge taking place, exudes between the cracks, and
the animal becomes completely tormented with the
flies. A case of this sort I treated as follows ; I
gave to each sheep : —
Sulphur, half an ounce.
Epsom Salts, one ounce.
Milk, half a pint.
This very soon cooled the febrile heat of the ani-
mal ; the external dressing which was used to soften
H
86
the skin and relieve the animal from that distress-
ing sensation, was as follows : —
Warm water, forty gallons.
Sweet oil, four quarts.
Sulphur, eight pounds.
Mix the whole together in a large tub, sufficient to
hold a sheep, the legs of which should be tied with
a cord; the sheep then being taken by two men,
one at the head, the other at the buttock, should
be immersed in the above dressing ; after lying
about a minute or two, the sheep should be lifted
up, a boy standing by to put a rack across the tub,
upon which it is to be laid, and well rubbed with
the hand ; it may then go. This is a practice I
would recommend in all such cases, as the sheep
appear to thrive and do very well immediately
afterwards.
MAE KING OE BEANDING.
This is mostly done after shearing or clipping,
and is quite necessary ; but it should be done so as
not to injure the fleece more than can be helped.
The brand should be put as near the tail as possible,
and the following composition will be found excel-
lent for the purpose : —
Take — Tallow, two pounds.
Tar, one pound and a half.
Resin, half a pound.
Lamp Black, three ounces.
This is to be used when rather warm, and if you
want a red brand, put four ounces of bole ammoniac
instead of lamp black. This composition is good
for a brand, and not so injurious as tar but of equal
durability.
87
THE SHEPHERD.
A man of this description should be steady and
active, and one who well understands his business,
being well acquainted with the nature, habits, and
economy of sheep, and perfectly accustomed to the
different modes and practices of their management.
If this is not the case, the flockmaster must un-
avoidably suffer great disappointment and loss.
The shepherd should also possess patience and good
nature, and an inclination to the performance of
his whole duty in a careful, diligent, and proper
manner, as inattention and neglect in such busi-
ness are attended with consequences of the most
serious nature to the flock and their owner. A
good shepherd is valuable where he is wanted, as
sheep require great care and much nicety in their
management, and a man ought to practise much
to understand them properly.
THE SHEPHERD’S DOG.
This animal, when the right breed is obtained,
is one of the most valuable and faithful of creatures,
and to the shepherd is a great acquisition. He is
of the tamed kind, and is distinguished by his up-
right ears and bushy tail ; he is an extremely useful
animal, and on all occasions faithful to his charge ;
he, for the most part, presides at the head of the
flock, where he is often more effectually heard and
attended to than anywhere else, even more so than
the voice of the person who has the care of them.
This dog should he careful, vigilant, good tempered,
and watchful ; and taught to obey and execute the
commands of his master.
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