232 SHEEP I BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



in the sheep, but are all and each imported from the infested 

 grass. The close biting of sheep is supposed to be one cause 

 of their receiving such vast numbers of sporo- cysts, and hence 

 long grass is not so fatal as closely grazed infested meadows. 



TREATMENT OF ROT. 



The treatment is rather preventive than curative. Frost 

 and drought are natural safeguards, and thorough drainage of 

 land is a great assistance in destroying the conditions favour- 

 able to the development of ova. Wet spots should be fenced 

 off, and the grazing of sheep be carried out upon " sound " 

 land. Neither must it be forgotten that infested sheep spread 

 the disease, and ought, therefore, to be carefully separated or 

 destroyed. The strength of sheep ought to be maintained 

 by plenty of dry and concentrated foods, and tonics such as 

 salt and sulphate of iron may be given with advantage. 



To cure a rotten sheep is more difficult, and is looked upon 

 by many as hopeless. If, however, the animal is enabled to 

 outlive the invasion and exist until the expulsion of the flukes 

 it may recover. Professor Simond's recipe will prove a good 

 guide, and is as follows : Take of bruised oil cake and pea 

 meal of each a bushel ; of salt and aniseed each 4lbs. ; of 

 sulphate of iron lib. ; finely grind these substances, and 

 thoroughly mix them and give to each sheep from half to one 

 pint daily. Salt is an excellent tonic, and assists in the secre- 

 tion of healthy bile, and it has been long known that sheep 

 grazed upon salt marshes are never affected with rot. Change 

 of diet is also insisted upon, and animals affected may receive 

 stimulants such as turpentine and sulphuric ether. Succulent 

 herbage should be avoided. The line of treatment consists in 

 fortifying the system in every way, by good hygiene, tonics, 

 and stimulants, giving food of an easily digestible character, 

 and such as can be digested with the minimum of bile (Steel). 

 Treatment is often unsatisfactory, and the best is undoubtedly 

 that which keeps a flock as far as possible out of harm's way, 

 oy avoiding the conditions which are likely to develop this 

 disorder. 



