554 Professor David James Hamilton [March 8, 



Our latest experiments with Braxy commenced last August, and 

 were spread over Scotland, England and Ireland. As sheep die from 

 several diseases of the class under consideration, our endeavours this 

 last season were centred on testing whether they could be immunised 

 to several of these simultaneously. I may say that this is a most 

 important question from many points of view, and one which as yet 

 is quite undetermined. Were it possible to accomplish this in one 

 operation great trouble would be saved in gathering the sheep and 

 administering the remedy. From a scientific point of view as well 

 this question of multiple immunisation is of the most extreme 

 interest and importance. 



The drench in these latest experiments was made up from five 

 different kinds of bacihi, all found in the peritoneal cavity of sheep 

 dying in infected districts, namely, Braxy, Louping-ill, Malignant 

 (Edema, and what I have named, for the time being, Disease "A" 

 and Disease "B." The drench was administered mostly during the 

 latter half of August, and a careful record has been kept by me of 

 all the deaths which have occurred. 



This winter, as we all know, has been one of unusual severity, 

 perhaps the most severe we have had for the last fifty years, and a 

 certain proportion of the mortality which has ensued may be accounted 

 for by exposure to its inclement influence, and to the diseases, such 

 as pleurisy, pneumonia, peritonitis, etc., which are incidental to such 

 severe climatic conditions. The mortality in Scotland among 

 undrenched sheep in the same districts as those in which our experi- 

 ments were conducted, has been truly enormous. In accounts of it 

 which have been sent to me I hear that 50 to SO per cent, is common 

 enough, indeed more than it has been for many years past. 



So far, I may say, our experiments in Scotland and Ireland have 

 been wonderfully successful. The mortality from all causes will not, 

 I think, come up to more than :-> to 4 per cent. This is a great im- 

 provement upon anything we have had as yet, especially when the 

 character of the weather is taken into consideration. What is still 

 more remarkable, however, is the fact that Braxy and the other 

 diseases, against which the animals were protected, have virtually 

 disappeared from those treated by us. the mortality being accounted 

 for by accidental causes or diseases beyond our scope. Among 

 animals leading an outdoor existence and fed in the wildest and 

 bleakest districts in our country, there will always be a certain 

 mortality, but I am in hopes of reducing the present low figures to 

 an even lower level next season. 



It is always to be remembered, moreover, that shepherds usually 

 place to our credit deaths from accidental causes which are quite 

 beyond our control. 



It is only in England, on the Duke of Xorthumberland's 

 property, that the mortality has been at all excessive, and here, I 

 must confess, the metbod of prevention, on the face of it, looked as 



