600 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G2. 



what appeared to be the principal immediate source of infection. 

 This is being accomplished. It is too early for definite results of 

 any value to be obtained, specially as this summer — 1910-11 — 

 has been remarkable for its unusual rainfall, a circumstance that 

 in itself would readily account for the very slight mortality expe- 

 rienced to date. Needless to add that wherever a disease of this 

 nature occurs it is imperative carcases should be destroyed, prefer- 

 ably by fire, and that at least they should not be allowed to remain 

 gradually disintegrating on the surface of the soil. 



Nomenclature. 



Ivar Neilsen suggested the term " Gastromycosis Ovis " 

 for bradsot. Hamilton found objections to this on account 

 of the fact that it might with equal justice be applied to other 

 diseases, and substituted " Morbus subitarius ovis " for both 

 braxy and bradsot. While agreeing with Hamilton that Neilson's 

 term is unsatisfactory, not only for the reason that he advances, 

 but because according to Neilsen's own report the "mycosis "is not 

 limited to the stomach, and further because the " gastritis" is not 

 characteristic, it cannot be considered that Hamilton's designation 

 is an improvement, for to it there are obvious objections. In my 

 preliminary report to the Tasmanian Minister of Agriculture on the 

 " braxy-hke disease " as occurring in that State, I suggested the 

 term "malignant transudation." 



Further, careful consideration of Jensen's description of bradsot 

 (as summarised in the Veterinarian of 1895) and of Hamilton's 

 description of braxy, leads one to the conclusion that while there 

 are certain definite points of distinction between bradsot and braxy, 

 they are not sufficiently marked either from a pathological or 

 bacteriological standpoint to warrant the conclusion other than 

 that they are but varieties of the same disease. Again, although, 

 as this paper shows, there are certain definite distinctions between 

 the winter disease of yearling sheep investigated in Tasmania and 

 the summer disease of older sheep in Victoria, and although the 

 bacilli have certain though slight distinguishing characters that 

 these two diseases are but really varieties of tlie one, cannot be 

 doubted. 



In addition, however, tlie complete review of the sheep diseases 

 mentioned, " bradsot " of Norway, etc., " braxy " of Great Britain, 

 the Tasmanian, the Victorian, and the New Zealand sheep diseases, 

 including what is known of the bacteriology of each impels the 

 conclusion that they are at most but varieties of the same disease. 

 Hence it being obviously as unwise as it is unprofitable to establish 

 new names with Latin terminology where an old established and 

 general name is available and distinctive, it seems to me preferable 

 from every point of view to discard all others for this class of disease 

 and adhere to the one " Braxy " as being short, convenient and free 

 from any objection. 



