183 
my own cattle that were running at home, while three other of my herds which 
were four or five miles away from the range where the Texas cattle had fed 
were perfectly healthy. The experience of my neighbors was similar to my 
own, and the route over which the Texas cattle that communicated the disease ~ 
were driven could be traced by the carcasses of domestic cattle around the 
watering and camping places. The disease attacked our domestic cattle from 
10 to 20 days from the time they were exposed.” 
Abortion.—The correspondent of Essex, New Jersey; says of abortion: 
I cannot help thinking that when the causes of abortion among cows come to be prop- 
erly investigated it will be found that keeping a large number of them confined closely 
together in one house, all breathing the same atmosphere, and that a very impure one, from 
the disregard of strict cleanliness, which prevails too generally, without proper exercise and 
without due friction and cleanliness of the skin, has more perhaps to do in inducing the dis- 
ease than all other causes combined. Still, there must be some remote cause giving rise to 
this specific form of morbid action, which deserves the closest study and investigation on 
the part of pathologists and scientific breeders. 
DISEASES OF SHEEP. 
The losses from disease have been greater among sheep than cattle, due 
mainly to the want of care and feed, and to some extent, apparently, to consti- 
tutional debility induced by injurious practices of fine-wool breeders. Grub in 
the head, liver rot, scab and foot rot, are too common in all parts of the country. 
In New York, Ohio, and 'Texas, disease appears to be more prevalent than else- 
where ; in the latter State scab and foot rot producing most of the loss. In Liv- 
ingston, New York, one-eighth of the total number are estimated to be suffering 
from the foot rot. The Onondaga correspondent says, with some show of prob- 
ability, that ‘ where a lazy farmer’s flock becomes infected they are sure to have 
it always, though it can be cured.”’ 
In Beaver, Pennsylvania, an unknown disease has caused much loss. One 
man lost 100 from a flock of 330, partly from grub in the head, but mostly from 
the malady referred to, the animals falling into a kind of stupor, post-mortem 
examination showing the intestines lumpy or knotty. The flock was well kept. 
Another wool grower lost 80 from a flock of 275, and another 200 from a flock 
of 800, the latter from scab and foot rot, probably intensified by over-crowding 
in winter. 
Our correspondent in Athens, Ohio, represents the losses of sheep as more 
than a fourth of the entire number. Feed fell short and flocks were turned 
very early out upon the naked plains, either to obtain a scanty subsistence or to 
die. In Medina, Ohio, the loss is placed at six or seven per centum, a lower 
figure than would have resulted but for culling out the poorest for their pelts. 
Few reports of losses of lambs are received. One-fourth of the young lambs 
in Middlesex, Virginia, were lost by inclement weather. In Barry, Michigan, 
goitre in Jambs has been fatal. The reporter for Rockingham, New Hampshire, 
claims that Southdown lambs are stronger than Merinos, and that fewer have 
died. The losses of young lambs is very general and often quite severe. | 
Losses of sheep from disease during the past winter have exceeded those of 
the previous winter in the following counties : 
New Hampshire.—Sullivan. 
New York.—Wayne, Seneca. 
New Jersey.—Essex. 
Pennsylvania.—Mercer, Dauphin, Armstrong, Susquehanna, Butler. 
Virginia.—Gloucester, Tazewell, Norfolk. 
North Carolina.—Cabarrus, Guilford, Davie, Greene, Caldwell, Hertford. 
South Carolina.—Georgetown, Union. 
Georgia.—Glynn, Tatnall, Johnson. 
Florida.—Nassau, Levy. 
Mississippi.—Yazoo, Marion, Hinds. 
