220 SHEEP ! BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



that pathologists, both in this and other countries, were widely 

 divided in their opinions as to the nature and cause of the 

 affection. In this connection various views have been enter- 

 tained by different observers. Rheumatism was for a long 

 time accepted as the inducing factor until that disease became 

 better understood, and its many points of departure from the 

 malady in question were fully recognised. 



The existence of abscesses in and about the joints, as well 

 as the liver, lungs, and other organs of the body, led. to the 

 suspicion of a scrofulous nature, but as more light fell upon 

 the latter disease, its relations with joint-ill disappeared, and 

 are no longer recognised. 



So far as the conditions of its origin are concerned, there is 

 every reason for believing that it does not owe its existence to 

 any one particular cause, but rather to the operation of several 

 co-ordinating circumstances connected with the feeding and 

 management of the ewe flock as well as the offspring. 



It may be noted that the disease is confined to no particular 

 breed. The offspring of old and young stock are alike 

 affected, but it must be admitted that the lambs of ewe tegs 

 suffer much more frequently and severely than those of older 

 sheep. 



In both old and young the liability to attack is greater in 

 twins than in singles. Of the influence of locality we have no 

 sufficient data upon which to form a judgment, but of meteoro- 

 logical conditions it can be said that cold easterly and north- 

 easterly winds, especially if attended with rain or snow, 

 aggravate the malady when once it is established, but it does 

 not appear to have any notable influence in its production. 

 We have known it to prevail under the most favourable condi- 

 tions of weather. From twenty-four hours to three weeks or 

 a month old is the time when the disease usually appears, and 

 its duration extends over a like period. Isolated examples of 

 the affection seldom occur. Large numbers of the flock in- 

 variably suffer, and of those stricken 40 to 80 per cent, 

 succumb. 



