188 DISEASES OF 



The disease caused by this parasite is very common 

 in some seasons and in some localities. It is peculiar 

 to sheep and is known as liver-rot, fluke-disease, sheep 

 rot, etc. In Figs.87 and 88 are seen specimens of the para- 

 sites with their size and shape. The body is flattened 

 and the color is pale-brown. It is peculiar to low, wet 

 pastures and wet seasons. Its life-history is very in- 

 teresting. It passes a portion of its life in one of the 

 snails. As these are found only in moist places, it ex- 

 plains the cause of the parasite being found only on 

 wet pastures or during extraordinary wet seasons. 



Symptoms. For the first three months after sheep are 

 infected, they will often fatten very fast. This is soon 

 followed by diminished appetite and great thirst. 

 Wasting now begins and continues until death occurs 

 from anemia, unless the flukes are expelled and conva- 

 lescence begins. The latter event usually occurs in 

 May or June, but unfortunately most of the diseased 

 sheep die before that time. On making an examination 

 of the liver of a sheep that has died of this disease the 

 flukes will be seen in the bile-ducts of the organ, vary- 

 ing in size from the young to the full-grown, as seen in 

 Figs. 87 and 88. The losses of sheep from this disease in 

 the whole world are said to be much greater than those 

 from any other known disease. The losses in England in 

 one year were estimated at 3,000,000 sheep. 



Treatment. Sheep should always be kept away from 

 wet pastures. As to medicines, the infusion of pine- 

 leaves, spruce-leaves, oak-leaves, walnut-leaves, lime- 

 water, sulphate of iron, and common salt all have their 

 special advocates. The two last seem to have the 

 preference. 



The experience of most observers has been that when 



