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THESE Cattle are subject to sundry Diseases; occa∣sioned by Infection, Evil-digestion, wet and un∣wholsome feeding, eating unsavory and noisome Herbs that
breed bad Blood and Humors, drinking dirty Water, and the often dropping of Trees upon them, being abroad, no ••mino lerate Showres, Damps, Mists and Fogs arising from Moorish and Meadow-grounds.
For the Head-ach, caused by damp and unwholsome ••eeding, burn Storax under the Nose of the Ram or Ewe, &c. give the Decoction of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Housleek in a pint ••f Whitewine blood-warm, and Water to drink wherein Cummin seeds and Fennel have been boiled.
This happens mostly in the hot Season, through exces∣••ve heat; to remedy it, let him blood as soon as you per∣••ive him to stagger and round, by slitting the Nose-vein cross, then take a handful of Baum, Rue and Mint, boil ••m in two quarts of Small Beer, and give him a pint at time Morning and Evening successively.
Take a handful of Wheat-flower, a spoonful of Bay∣••lt, make it into little balls with sharp Vinegar some∣••hat bigger than Hazle-nuts, thrust two or three down ••s Throat fasting, as near as may be; do it two or three ••ornings, and give Water after it wherein Sorre has been ••iled, or for want of that, mix it with a little Ve••juice.
For this let blood, by making a little slit between the ••••ws behind and before, not suffering him for 24 hours •••• drink any cold Water; then boil two Roots of Gar∣••••k, an ounce of Pepper, Wood-sorrel, Bettony and ••••e, each a handful in a quart of Small-beer; strain it ••••ll, and give it three days successively half a pint, or ••••thing more, at a time; but if it b•••• a Lamb, give a ••••t of the Ewes Milk wherein Polipodium of the Oak and ••••ebs have been boiled, at twice, viz. Morning and Even∣
These troublesome Distempers proceed from abundan•• of phlegmatick Humors to remedy it, burn under •• Nose Assafoetida, the Bark of Elder and Ta〈…〉〈…〉risk, give •• Ale wherein a small quantity of Liquori••h and Annise•••• have been boiled, and let him not for two or three day be in any wet place.
For remedying this, bleed him in the Gums or upp•• Lip, ••ub the place with Salt and the Juice of Sage, •• Garlick or Onions, two or three days, if the Pain •• not sooner.
Draw the Swelling to a head with a Plaister made •• Rye-Meal, Ground-Ivy, and the Yolks of Eggs, and •• ripe launce it, and put into the hole powdered burnt •• lum and Salt, covering it with a Plaister of Burgu•• Pitch.
This same is called the Wild-Fire, and very dange•• to Sheep: To cure it, take Bole-Armoniack, Deers S•• Turpentine, Soot, and the Juyce of Housleek, of •• an Ounce, wash the Afflicted place with Goats-Milk; for want of it, Ew••-Milk, make the before-menti•• Indredients into a Plaister, over a gentle Fire; clip •• Wooll close, and give him Salt with his Water.
Take a handful of the Herb Melilot, the like of Com•• Polipodium of the Oak, Rue, and Walnut-tree-leaves, the green Husks of Walnuts, if to be had, are better; b•• them in a quart of Water, and a pint of Aqua-vitae, s•• out the liquid part, and stir in it an Ounce of Methri••
••ill di Tolved, and give half a pint at a time warm, and ••et the Sheep be in dry Pasture, or any airy House.
Take Soot, the Stalks of Tobacco, and flower of Brim∣••oue, boyl them in fresh Chamberlye, and wash the grie∣••ed part.
Take a handful of red Sage, the like quantity of Purslain, ••arsle••, Colts-foot, a Herb so called, and a Root of Gar∣••ck, boyl them, when well bruised in a quart of White∣••ine, then add to the strained Liquor an Ounce of Honey, •••• half an Ounce of Methridate, and give it the afflict∣••d Beast Morning and Evening warm.
Take Fennegreek-seeds, Cummin-seeds, the powder of ••quo••ish, of each two Ounces, Colts-foot a handful, three ••unces of the Oyl of Sweet Almonds, boyl them in three ••nts of stale Beer, strain out the liquid part, and give it ••e Sheep fasting; half a pint in the Morning blood-warm.
Many times, especially in bad Pasture, the Sheep will ••k in Spiders, poisonous Worms, or some other Infecti∣•• that will make them sick, and very much swell: This ••ing perceived; for a speedy Remedy, take half a pint •• Vi••egar, and a quarter of a pint of Olive-Oyl, give •• the Beast warm, and keeping him moving up and down ••r ha••f an hour.
Th••s is occasioned by eating unwholsome Food: To ••medy it, let blood under the Tail, and give them Water •• drink, wherein Rue, Camomile, and Bay leaves have ••en boiled.
For Claws that are lame, bruised, over-grown, broken, pare them as much as is convenient, then make Plaister of Bees-wax, Rosin•• ••urpentine, unslacked Li•• and Hogs-grease, anoint the Claw with Oyl of Camo〈…〉〈…〉 and lay the Plais••er on it, binding it up hard, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him not to go into wet places till he is well.
Take a handful of Burdock-roots, as much of B•••••• boyl them in Camberlye, and wash the Sheep over v•• it; or at least, the place afflicted with these Insects, •• when that is dryed, anoint it with T••r-water, and it •• not only kill those that are there at present, but pre•• the putrefaction that breeds them.
Take Camo〈…〉〈…〉, Marsh Mallows, ••ettony, Bug〈…〉〈…〉 and Honey suck ••o leaves, of each half a handful, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them with Hogs-lard, and fry them in a Frying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spread them upon Leather, as a Poultis, and bind up •• afflicted part with them very warm.
If you find your Sheep Feaverish, suddenly ch〈…〉〈…〉 their P••sture, separate those that are infected, from th•• that are well; and consider in the next place, from whence •• cause of the Distemper proceeds, whether from Cold, Heat; if from the former, drive them to shelter; if fr•• the latter, feed them among Trees, or in any conveni〈…〉〈…〉 shady Enclosures.
Then take Pulcol-Royal, stamp it, and squeeze out •• Juyce, and mix it with half a pint of Water and Vineg•• viz. an Ounce and a half of it, give it as warm as he w•• receive it, and gently drive for half an hour.
To find this, look between the Claws, and you may ••ercei••e Hair, or Wooll like a head; and indeed, this cal∣••d the Worm, is all a woolly substance, which, if great, ••uses Lameness; to take it out, slit the Foot, pull it out ••ithout breaking, and anoint the place with Tallow, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and it will do well.
For this Affliction, bleed in the Spining-vein in the Foot, ••en stamp Rue, Wormwood, Bay-salt, and Butter, a•••• ••y, it on as a Poultis.
When this abounds, it causes a yellowness of the Skin, burning feaverish heat, and much pain. To remedy •• take a good handful of young Elder-leaves, strain the ••yce out, when well stamped, into a pint of A••e, and ••ve it him warm.
Take a pint of stale Urine, half an Ounce of Allom, a ••ram of Saffron, boyl them to the consumption of a ••ird part, and give it warm.
This much troubles Sheep, because they are naturally ••lined to a waterish Flegmetick Constitution: To re∣••edy he Oppression by it•• super-abounding, take Polipo∣〈…〉〈…〉 of the Oak; the Roots of Fern, Bettony-leaves, of ••ch half a handful, boyl them in a quart of Ale, and give the Beast to drink, when strained, pretty warm, and it ••ll cause him to avoid much slime, and watery offensive ••atter.
This many times, by over-moist Feeding, hangs bag•• between the outward Skin, and Rim of the Belly; and not timely removed, causes the Rot; it may be done •• gathering to one part, as may be by grasping and drivi•• it with your Hands; then slit a little Hole, and put i•• Quill, and so squeeze it out, then anoint the place w•• Tar, and Butter, and it will heal; but if it be within •• Rim of the Belly, it must be purged out, for if that •• cut, it cannot be closed again; it may be done with h•• an Ounce of Alloes, and an Ounce of Turmerick in w•• Milk, given for a Fortnight fasting.
Take fine leaved Grass, or Cinquesoil a handful, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, and boil it in a pint of White-wine, give him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pint warm in the Morning, and the next in the like 〈…〉〈…〉¦ner the next Morning, and bathe his Legs with W〈…〉〈…〉 wherein Rosemary has been boiled.
This is known by coming out in small Pimples, over like the Purples, and when it first appears, sep〈…〉〈…〉 those that are afflicted with it, from the rest of the Fl•••• to prevent Infection; change the Pasture, and the W〈…〉〈…〉 being clipped away, anoint them with the Juyce of 〈…〉〈…〉¦li••k, well incorporated with Tar-water, or the thi•••• of Tar.
Blo••d pretty well in the Temple-Veins, of through Nostrils, and rub the place with the Juyce of young Net and half a pint of White-wine, give an Ounce of M〈…〉〈…〉¦date as hot as can conveniently be taken.
To cure this, cut away the Tags, lay the Sore open, cast curious sine Mould on it, and lay on a Plaister of Tar, Oyl of Tar, Oyl of Turpentine, and Goose-grease well mixed, and incorporated together.
Sometimes, by reason of ••old moist Distempers, the Sheeps Teeth grow so loose, that they cannot feed, and therefore must consequently pine.
To fasten them, then bleed the Gums, rub them with Salt, and burnt Allom, bleed again under the Tail, and boyl Sage and Lavender in fair Water, and give it to drink.
These are known by the Sheeps beating his Belly with his Feet, stamping and turning his Head back to look on his Sides. To remedy this, stamp the Leaves of Corian∣der, mix the Juyce of it with Honey, give him it warm fasting, and afterward warm Water, wherein Wormwood has been steeped, to drink.
This is a dangerous Distemper, and if not readily minded, takes away the Sheep in a short time.
To remedy it, take long Pepper, Hemp-seed, Liquo∣rish Anniseeds, and Honey, of each an Ounce, add as much Penny-royal dryed, and powdered, put these into two quarts of new Milk, and give him half a pint at a time warm, successively one hour after another; or if in haste, and these cannot be readily got, take the dryed Flowers of Wormwood, a handful and half, a handful of Bay-salt, boyl them in Ale, give it in the foregoing ma••ner.
Peg the Ear with the Root of Setterwort, give the•• brine and Tar about two Ounces in half a pint of White wine; wash, or rather sprinkle the Sheep with Water wherein Fennel-seeds has been boyled: This is also goo•• for that called the Murrain of the Longs, occasioned •••• extream Drought, for want of Water in hot Weather.
If Films, Pins, Webs, Haws, or Rheums afflict •••• Eyes, burn Roach-Allom, and Harts-horn, blow th•• finely powdered, with a Quill into the Eyes; and ab•••• half an hour after, bathe them with Eye-bright Wat••••, wherein Bole-Armoniack has been steeped.
Boyl a handful of Honey-suckle-leaves, the like qu••••∣tity of Selendine, and Eye-bright in a pint of White-wi•• spirt this up the Sheeps Nostrils, and wash his Eyes wi•••• it.
This is occasioned by feeding too early, when they must feed on Dewey, or otherwise over-moist Grass, be∣fore the Sun has dryed it.
To remedy it, take a handful of Hysop, and as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bay-salt, boyl them in a pint of Vinegar, and wa•• their Mo••th•• and Pallates with it warm, anoint the place with an Oyntment made of ••ees-wax, Butter, and T••r, and in a short time it will heal.
It is many times o••servable, that Sheep, especially such as have the opportu••ity of coming among Bushes, Bryars, Brakes, Fu••z••s, and the like, loose a great part of the••
Wooll, easily coming off. This is occasioned by the dry∣ness of the Skin, through the wasting of the Sheep for wan•• Moisture: To remedy it, boyl, or bruise Ash-leaves in their Watering Troughs, and give them Fennel-seeds mixed with chope••, or short Hay, three or four times; you may also wash them with Water, wherein Wood-Ashes have been soaked.
This is ocacsioned by too damp Aires when they are a∣broad late, or Fogs in low or Marshey Grounds, whereby the Brain is overcharged with Moisture.
To dry this up, which else may probably turn to Colds, Coughs, or sometimes a Rot, smoak them with the Flow∣••r of Brimstone sprinkled on a Chasing-dish of Coals, or burn ••••ags dipped in Brimstone; you may in a close House, smoak twenty or thirty together with little trouble, for ••he Air being scented, and they snuffing it up, it will dry ••p the moist Vapours; then give them Vinegar, in which Bay-leaves have been boyled, to drink, and it will purge ••heir Heads, and the foulness of the Stomach, that send•• ••p the Vapour, and administers to the Moisture.
Bleed them in the Tail and Nose, Spring and Fall, ••urge them with Hysop and Lavender boyled in Whey, which will cause gentle breathing Sweats, to carry off ••he gross and afflicting Humour, and rarefie the Blood, so ••hat they will feed well, and wholsome, be lively, and ••atten apace.
If with moderate driving they lye often down, loll out ••heir Tongues, pant, and are tired, take Plantain, bruise ••t, and rub their Mouths and Noses with it, then take ••isemart, which grows almost in every Ditch, do the ••ke, and rub their Fundaments, and they, after having ••rank a little Water, will go with a Courage.
Take of Rue and Smallage, of each a handful, Aqu••∣vitae half a pint, bruise the Herbs, and strain the Juy•• out, stamp it over a gentle Fire in the Aqua-vitae, and wa•• the afflicted place often with it hot, then take Vervei•• Lavender, and Oyl of Spike, stamp the Herbs, and ma•• a Poultis, and bind it to the afflicted part.
When any such Infection happens, you may know it b•• the Sheeps staggering and reeling; then open the Mou•••• and under the Tongue, you will find Blisters, cut the•• off with a sharp Knife, and rub the Mouth well wi•••• Bole-Armoniack and Sage, boyled in Chamberlye; th•• give him a quarter of a pint of Olive-Oyl in half a pint •• new Milk.
This is occasioned by over-rank feeding, or eating u••∣vory things; and is known by the drawing up the Be•• spurning at it with their Feet, often lying down, •••• quickly rising, as uneasie. To remedy it:
Take a handful of Rue, and Fetherfew, boyl it in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quarts of Water, with an Ounce of Coriander-seeds, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 give it the afflicted Sheep to drink.
This is occasioned by Surfeits, or too much gross〈…〉〈…〉 of Humour, bad Blood, or the like.
To remedy this, bleed them under the Tongue •• Tail, boyl a good handful of Baum, and an Ounce and half of Turmerick finely powdered, in three pints of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Milk, and give a pint at a time warm, then wash th•• with Water, wherein Elder and Burdock-roots have be•• boyled, not giving them any Meat for twelve hours.
This is caused by feeding in wet places, or too early, when the Dew is much upon the Grass, so that in the Biting, they suck up too much Moisture, which they can∣not digest, nor evacua••e, by sweating it out; and so be∣ing capable of passing the Skin, it remains, and corrupts between it and the inward Rhine, and often occasions a Universal Rot.
To remedy this, clip off the Wooll close behind each Shoulder, slit the Skin there, and put in a Tent dipped in Oyl of Spike, and it will draw the Water to it, and so evacuate by twice or thrice renewing it then steep half an Ounce of Regulus of Antemony, in a pint of Ale, with a little of the Spice, called, Grains, and a little Sugar; warm it, and give to the Sheep about half a quar∣ter of a pint at a time, two or three times, with a day or two's intermission between each time.
As for the Rot, though I have spoken as to its Remedy, seeing it is the most dangerous of all to Sheep, destroying them in clusters, I shall speak some more fully of it, with the sign of its approach and causes.
In moist years, sheep are subject to the Rot, where, in dry years, they are exempted from it, and that not only from the moisture, for then would Sheep Rot in all moist Grounds; but there is a certain putrefaction in the Air, Grass, or Herb, or all of them that cause it, which usu∣ally attend them in such moist years; which, together with their Food, corrupt their Livers; and that through foulness, wateryness, and defect of Blood, for want of its performing its due Office, creates this Disease.
When the beginning of this is perceived by their hus∣key Cough, or some of them dropping away, with all speed with them to the salt Marshes, and by their feeding there, if there be no over-flowings of Water, or extream wet, the Liver, if not too much putrefied, will take heat,
and recover it•• Strength, and then the Blood, by the Acre∣mony of the Grass, being purified and purged, the Sheep will do well.
If May and June prove wet Months, the Proit causes •• frothey Grass, together with the bad Air that must neces∣sarily follow, causes the Rot in Sheep; therefore, in such Summers, keep your Sheep on the dry and barren Lands; Fodder them in Winter with hardest Hay, and most astrin∣gent Fodder.
Some Grounds yield soft Grass above others, and this is subject to breed the Rot in your Sheep; therefore feed o∣ther Cattle there, and your Sheep in the dryest, healthiest, and hardest Pastures.
If they be already infected with the Rot, which you may discern by the colour of their Eyes, pen them up in a Barn, or large Sheep Coat set about, it may be with wooden Troughs, and feed them a day or two with Oats, then put amongst them Bay-salt well stamped, and after that a greater quantity, till such time as they begin to distaste it, then give them clean Oats another day or two, and then as before, serve them with Salt well stamped, and so encrease as directed; follow this course till their Eyes have recovered their natural colour, and then you may assure your self the danger is over, and the Sheep will be well.
If you are not furnished with a convenient House, it may be done in a close warm Yard, or Pingle, if the Wea∣ther be favourably seasonable.
Folding of Sheep in May, or June, if they prove wet, make them Rot the sooner, because they are more greedy devourers in the hurtful Grass in the Morning, than those not folded; therefore, at that time, liberty from the Food is well prevented.
This red Water is an infectious Disease in Sheep, offend∣ing the Heart, and is also as pestilent among other Cattle; therefore, when you perceive any of your Sheep afflicted with it; let them Blood between the Claws, and under the Ta••l, then lay to the sore place, Wormwood, or Rue, fin••••ly beaten with Bay-salt.
Take Goose-grease, Brimstone, and Tar, mix them to∣gether over a gentle Fire, and if there be any Maggots, Worms, or sore places infected with Flies, anoint it with thi••, and it will destroy, and prevent the Mischief.
For Worms in the Body, take a quarter of a pint of the Juyce of Wormwood, and Sage, give it the Sheep in a pint of warm Milk, and put Bay-salt, and a little Allom, in the watering Trough, and by this means the Worms wi••l be killed, and brought away, either bred in the Sto∣ma••k, or Bowels.
••f the Lamb be sick and weak when it is yeaned, then w••••p, or fold it up in a warm Cloath, and opening the Mouth a little, blow into it; then draw the Dam's Dugs, an•• squirt Milk into the Mouth of it, then boyl a little Saf••ron and Cinnamon in the Milk, and give it warm a∣bout a quarter of a pint, and House it; by this means many Lambs are saved, that would be otherways lost.
This is often occasioned by their over-much brousing on Hawthorn, and Oak-leaves, or such like, which the Lambs especially, are very apt to do, and it is known by their sta••gering, or turning round, for that manner of feeding ingenders cold corrupted Blood, or Flegm gathered toge∣ther
about the Brain; and indeed, this Disease is very dan∣gerous, and makes them suddenly fall down before thos•• that are ignorant in it, scarce know they a••l any thing.
To remedy this, dissolve Assafaetida in warm Wa••er, and put the quantity of half a spoonful into each Ear of the Lamb, and a spoonful into that of a Sheep, then stop the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 close, and it will work the Distemper from the Brain, and entirely cure them, if timely taken.
This is a grievous offensive Disorder, or Sorrance, not uncommon amongst Sheep, especially those that are much exposed in the Fields, or other places, to rainey weather, or great Mists, or Fogs; over-driven much in wet dirty ways, or the like: These things, I say, will afflict them with this n••useous Sorrance, making them break forth in∣to Sca••s, which, upon view, you may know if it ••e ge∣neral, or only in particular places, by a filthy white Scurff sticking on their ••kins; when you perceive this, take off the Wool as close as can ••e, mix Tar, Goose∣grease, and the Juyce of Rue, make them into an Oynt∣ment over a gentle Fire, and anoint them with it warm, then clap some light fleeces of Wooll, or a few shreads of stocks over it, and the Scab will dry up, and peel off; you may, if it be very great, let Blood in the Tail and Ears, and give them the Juyce of Cardus in a Glass of White∣wine to drink, and then a while after smoak them with Brimstone, which will put them into a kind of a Flu••, that will carry off the Humour; and then, the cause remo∣ved, the Effects will cease.
It is convenient for all keepers of Sheep, to have the following Medicine by them, as well in the Field, as at home in the Coats, or Houses, to remedy any sudden Sickness, and stay the Sheep alive till other Medicines can be got; especially in the Feaver, Pox, Rots, Lungs defective, &c. it is excellent.
Take Penny-royal half a handful, Scabeous, and Shep∣herd's Purse a like quantity, boyl these, when you have bruised them well in three pints of small Ale, and strain out the liquid part by hard squeezing, and pressing the Herbs, then put to it two Ounces of London-Treacle, put it up in a Bottle, and stop it close, and give a quarter of a pint of this when you see the Sheep in any disorder, and it will be of wonderful use for their preservation, and restoring them to health.
Many times by bad feeding, or over-driving, defect in the Blood, or the like, the Body of the Sheep will be fiery∣red and hot all over, to the endangering him into a Fea∣ver or Plague: To remedy it, wash him with warm Water, wherein Pimpernel and Sage have been boyled, and give him Whey to drink, wherein Hysop and Polipo∣〈…〉〈…〉 have been steep'd, after they have been well bruised, an•• hard pressed into the liquid.
If you would have them feed well, when you put them to Grass, especially in the Spring, it will be highly con∣venient that they be moderately purged, which will puri∣fi•• their Blood, by carrying off the gross Humours con∣tr••cted in Winter, and make them grow lusty and Fat. To do this,
Take three or four Sprigs of Spurg-Lawre••, a quarter of an Ounce of Antimony, a handful of dryed Rose∣leaves, if fresh ones are not to be had; bruise and boyl these in new Whey, and give to every one a quarter of a pint, keep them fasting after it 4 or 5 hours; then, if the Weather be warm and open, turn them to grazing in the Field, where there is no Water, for all that day, &c.
If you perceive the Ewe defective in Nature, to bring forth her young, lay her soft, and to the best advantage for yeaning, then take a handful of the tops of Basa-mint, or Horse-Mint, stamp it, and put the Juyce; or for w•••••• of that, if none but dryed Mint can be had, put the pow∣der into a half pint of strong Ale, and give it the Ewe to drink, and she will presently yean.
Change their Pasture, if you find their Udders are dry∣ing up, or that they give but little; but let it be short and sweet, nothing inferiour, but rather exceeding that they are removed from; for, indeed, nothing increases Milk in Ews more than change of Pasture, and fresh feed∣ing; and if the Ground give opportunity, drive them one while to the Hills; and then again to the Valleys, and where it is sweetest, and short, they will eat with the best Appetite; there see they continue longest; and to bring their Milk down apace, give them mingled with short Grass, or short Hay, Fitches, Dill, Anniseeds, and the like, and their Milk will spring apace.
If the Ewe grow unnatural, and decline her Lamb, and will neither suckle that, or one of another Ews; to make her more kind after she has yeaned, take a little of the clean of the Ewe, which is the Bed, Nature provided for the Lamb to lye in, whilst he grew in the Ews Belly, dry it, and beat it to powder, and give it her in a Glass of White-wine, and afterwards she will fall naturally in love with the Lamb, and be very fond of it; but if an Ewe has cast her Lamb, and you would have her take to that of another; then take the dead Lamb, and with it
rub and dawb the live Lamb all over, and when she has ••cente•• it, she will love and cherish it as her own.
If this happen either in the Mouth, or on the Skin, by the Eyes, Ears, or Pole of the Neck; to remedy it, as an eating and troublesome sore, make a mixture with Oyl, Salt, and Allom, and dissolved, or well incorporated over a gentle Fire, and anoint the place with it, then co∣ver it with a Plaister of Tar, and the Flower of Brim∣stone, and in so ordering three or four times; the Cure w••ll be wrought.
As for those that undertake the Care of Sheep there is a great charge and care lies on them, if they intend they shall turn to any good Account; and therefore I shall con∣clude this particular Treatise, with some Directions not, or very slenderly touched on.
Fi••st, It behoves the Shepherd to know what Food is good and nourishing for Sheep, and what hurtful, so that by chusing the one, and eschewing the other, he may keep his Cattle in good health: The Grass most wholsom for Sheep, is that which has store of Mellilot, Clover, Cinquefoil, Pempernel, Broom, and white Henbane growing among it. That which is unwolsome for Sheep, is that which has growing among it Spare-wort, Penny-wort, Penny-Grass, or any Weeds, or Flowers that grow from the overflowing of Water, or Inundations; as Brooklime, Mareblabs, Lady Smocks, Smallage, &c. also that which has ••notted Grass growing among it is not good, nor where the Mildew falls, or such as is spotted with it.
Of all Rots, the Hunger Rot is the worst, for it pu∣trefies the Skin, and Flesh. The next is the Pelt Rot, which cometh by great store of Rain, or going in much wet immediately after being Shorn; for the Wet Mil∣dewing,
the Sk••n corrupts the Body; and this is most 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Fie••••-sheep wanting shelter.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whi••e Snales which the Sheep will li¦〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 will soon rot them; and if you perce••¦〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 a•• the Ews Teats, that stop the Milk, wh〈…〉〈…〉 th•• 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 them away.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Sheep will have a bladder of Water •• 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 which must ••e Lanced, and let out in 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 will not pr〈…〉〈…〉.
In a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of G••ievances and Sickness, the party 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 to tend, or look after Flocks of Sheep, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 by their Feeding and Ordering, from what ca〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sickness or Griefs may chance to arise, or happ〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Cold, his ••••st way is, as soon as he sees them •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to drive them to shelter; if from Heat, to d〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to feed in shady cool places.
It is best buying them in March, when they have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out the Winter. As for the Terms given them in m〈…〉〈…〉 Co••••tries, for the better understanding them, take th•• Rule: The Lamb for its first year, is called a Weath〈…〉〈…〉 ••og: The second year the Male is called a Weather, •• gelded; the Female a Theaf, and then she is fit for the Ra•• If she passes another year, she is then accounted a dou〈…〉〈…〉 Theaf, and the best Breeder: As for Lambs, those th•• Suckle, are for the sweetness of their Flesh, preferred be∣fore Grass-Lambs; he must always have Necessaries re〈…〉〈…〉 to assist the Cattle, if taken ill, or hurt, and good Do〈…〉〈…〉 to guard them, especially on the Purlews where they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out late in the Evening, or all Night; for though we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not infested with Wolves in this Country, yet we ha•••• mischievous Creatures to injure them in their Lambin•• time, by killing and sucking the Blood of their young, •• not carrying themaway; your larger sorts of Pol-Ceats w〈…〉〈…〉 do this; but the Fox in Lambing-time, makes their Blood h•• beloved Food. There are likewise Dogs very cunning •• this Trade, for they will go several Miles in a Night t•• ••ind out Sheep and Lambs, and having worried them, and ••••ti••ted themselves with their Blood, return, as if the•• had been no ways concerned; washing and licking the••∣selves so clean, as if they had not stirred from their K••••∣nels,
being sure to be at home e're any of the Family is stirring; and if they find themselves watched towards their Homes, so cunning they are, that they will make more dablings than the Hare, to avoid the pursuit or dis∣cover •• where their Habitations are.
I have heard of a Mastiff that was kept up in a Coller and Chain, but having got before a haunt of this Trade which perhaps caused his restraint, he seemed uneasie o•• his Confinement at first, but within a little while, appear∣ed no ways disordered, or disturbed at it; there was th•••• a great Rumoùr of many Sheep being worried in the Fiel••s, and this Dog having been before suspected, they charged his Master with it, but he declared it could n•• be, for his Dog had not been out of his Coller for many Weeks before this happened; but one affirming, he saw a Do•• that had worried Sheep, come running into his Yard, of the same bigness and colour, it came in the Man's Head to cause him the next Night to be watched, but so, that the Dog could not see the party did it; when, about Midnight, the Moon shining, he came out of his Kennel, and sitting on his Tail, with his two fore-feet, with the help of his hinder ones, he thrust off his Coller, and ha∣sted to his Prey, and about three hours after came home, and put his Nose into his Coller, run it to the length of the Chain, and by straining with main sorce, thrust his Head in, licked his Feet, rubed his Nose clean in the Straw, lay down to sleep, as he had never removed from that place. This being told, created much Wonder and Ad∣m••ration, at the cunning and sensibleness of the Dog; so, that for his Policy, many interceeded to save his Life, but the Owners of the Sheep being clamorous, and threaten∣ing the utmost prosecution of the Law in that case, he was doomed to the Halter, and after all his cunning, had a Dogs Fate.
In Winter, get such Greens as your Sheep will eat, an•• are by the highness of their growth out of their rea•• which will keep their Bodies soluble, and their Blood •• a good temper, much preventing the Rot: In Snowy We••¦ther it lies lightly on the Ground, sweep it off, and yo•• will find sweet Grass, as it were, springing under it, •• reason the Snow keeps it warm, as in a Bed, and secure it from the niping Frost, and sharp Winds, which are the greatest hindrance to it; but this cannot easily be practi∣cable, but for a very few; however, their nibling of it •• that season, much revives them, if it be short, and f••e•• from old dead Stalks. To feed them on ploughed Land, where some Corn springs up again, that was shed out of the Ear before Seed-time, or in Copises, where tender Sprays give them a pleasant brousing, is very wholsome for them, and hinders the Winter Disease very much; and indeed, care ought to be taken of them, for they are o•••• main support of the Country; if you consider the great Commodity and Profit they bring in, their Wooll to Cloath us, their Pelts for sundry necessary Uses, their Fruitfulness and Increase, the delicacy of their Flesh for Nourishment, and the goodness of their Tallow and Suet on many oc∣casions; for the use of Man in Food, Oyntments, Salves, and Medicines. Therefore I shall conclude with the Ver∣ses of the ancient Poet: