18 SMALI--l'OX IN SIIKKI'. 



the disorder continued to spread, and many of the sheep 

 died. 



It was about a fortnight after the two flocks were pas- 

 tured together, that the maiiidy first shewed itseh'in the 

 Downs, and these seemed to suffer more from it than 

 the Merinos. The flocks were now separated ; still the 

 disease continued to advance, and daily losses were sus- 

 tained. 



Before my arrival at Datchett, the sheep had been 

 judiciously divided by Mr. Statham into three lots, 

 which were placed in fields situated at a distance from 

 each other, so as to prevent the disease being commu- 

 nicated by contact or even by infection. The first lot 

 consisted of Downs supposed to be healthy; the 

 second of Merinos recovering from the malady ; and 

 the third of Merinos and Downs still labouring under 

 it : the latter I carefully inspected. 



Those in thejirst stage of the affection were extremely 

 low in condition ; a mucous discharge fi'om the nostrils 

 was present ; the breathing was quick and catchmg ; 

 the visible mucous membranes were inflamed, particu- 

 larly the conjunctival lining of the eyelids, from which 

 tears flowed in large quantities : all food was refused ; 

 rumination had ceased; the ears were lopped; the 

 head held low ; and a disinclination was evinced by the 

 patients to associate with each other, some standing and 

 having a most dejected appearance, and others lying 

 dowTi. The pulse was considerably accelerated, and 

 scarcely perceptible at the maxillary artery, but at 

 the heart it gave to the hand a jerking sensation : the 

 skin was hot, red, and elevated in patches in the form 

 of nodules or papulae, approximated to each other. 

 The chief seat of the eruption was on the inside of the 



