Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swineMoussu, G. (Gustave)
Science
Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swine
Moussu, G. (Gustave)
Veterinary medicine
Severe losses have from time to time been recorded, especially in
America, from larkspur poisoning, the number of animals lost amounting
to thousands. The first signs of poisoning are slight general stiffness
and straddling gait, especially of the hind legs. The stiffness becomes
more and more pronounced, until walking is difficult and evidently
painful. Soon there are manifested various involuntary twitchings of the
muscles of the legs and sides of the body, and loss of control or
co-ordination of the muscles. Ordinarily there is no increase in the
quantity of the saliva, no dribbling of saliva from the mouth, no
champing of the jaws or attempts at swallowing. The sheep manifest none
of the mental disturbances frequently seen in cases of poisoning from
other sources, as for example loco weed and lupine. There is no
impairment of the special senses. The sheep seem to hear and see as well
and as correctly as under normal conditions of health.
No indications of any disturbances of the digestive functions are to be
seen. The appetite remains good, and the sheep eat up to the very last.
They were observed eating industriously during the intervals between the
attacks of spasms which they have during the last stages.
At first the frequency of the pulse and of the respiratory movements is
lessened and the temperature is lowered. The pulse remains very weak,
but in the later stages becomes very rapid, in some cases 130 per
minute. Toward the last also the respiration is very shallow and rapid.
During the final convulsions the respiration is sometimes 120 per
minute, but so shallow that the air is simply pumped up and down the
windpipe. The air in the lungs is therefore not renewed, and the animal
dies by asphyxia or suffocation.
So long as the sheep can stand on its feet, or walk, it keeps up with
the flock as nearly as possible. The exercise, however, excites it,
makes its respiration more rapid, and it has frequently to lie down for
a moment and then get up and hobble along after the flock. The worst
cases can thus easily be detected, since they straggle behind the rest
of the flock.
The later stages follow rather rapidly. The involuntary movements become
more frequent and more severe. All four legs tremble and shake
violently. In fact, all the muscles of the body contract spasmodically
until the animal totters over on its side and dies in the most violent
spasms.
Larkspur has the effect of arresting the heart’s action and respiration
and of paralysing the spinal cord.
=Treatment.= Place the animal by itself in a cool, quiet, shaded place
and avoid all excitement. Of the drugs tested, atropine sulphate
dissolved in camphor water has given the best results. Wilcox (Bull. 15,
Montana Ex. Station) recommends for sheep from ¹⁄₂₀ to ¹⁄₁₅ grain in the
earlier, and ⅙ to ¼ grain in the later convulsive stages. Cattle require
from four to five times these doses. Inhalations of ammonia vapour, and
small doses of alcohol and ether, are also useful.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account