162
ON THE LIVE-STOCK
ground is visibly overstocked, but chiefly in frosty wea-ther, when the spring is cold and late. The leaping-itt hasbeen long known in the county of Roxburgh, and on a fewfarms has almost extirpated the flocks. The predispositionto this disease, occasioned by the quality of the pastures, andthe poverty of the animals, is frequently brought into actionby any unusual exertion in running or leaping, and the dis-ease is commonly fatal. "When they fall down suddenly,and threaten to expire, bleeding has sometimes afforded re-lief; and in all cases, it is advisable to remove those that areaffected to better pastures, on which, if they survive for a fewdays, they are in little danger of a relapse.
VI. The Dysentery , known among shepherds by thenames of the Breakshuach, Breelshcvw, and Cling, is a mostinfectious disorder , which wastes the body with such rapidity,that though a sheep be fat and strong when infected, it is re-duced to a mere skeleton in a few days. If sheep are over-heated by running or folding, at a season of the year whenthey are mending fast in condition, they are in the utmostdanger of this disease, for a burning heat having been raisedin the blood and bowels, they are apt to drink greedily ofcold water, while the pores of the body are all open. Thisbrings on a dysentery, or rather a bloody flux. The excre-ment becomes quite liquid, of a greenish colour, at timesmixed with blood, and emits a strong fetid smell. The ani-mal separates from the flock, and drinks with avidity, if wa-ter is within its reach. It neither eats nor chews the cud,and a frequent rumbling noise is heard in its bowels.
If the distempered sheep cannot be confined at a distancefrom the rest of the flock, it is advised to smear them withtar and turpentine, which, it is said, prevents the communica-tion of the infection to others. But, if possible, they shouldbe confined in a place where there is no water.
A cure has been effected in several instances by bleeding,administering doses of salts, rhubarb, ipecacuanha, logwood,