552 SPOEADIC DISEASES. 



but the hind ones remained extended backwards, completely- 

 paralyzed, and the muscles of the hind quarter were clonically 

 convulsed. 



Sensibility was dindnished in the hind limbs, but there seemed 

 to be some degree of hyperasthresia in the fore ones, as these 

 moved very rapidly and violently when pricked. The sensibility 

 of the trunk seemed to be normal. 



The temperature was 105-5° F., pulse 106, and respirations, 

 when not disturbed, 30, but when excited the breathing became 

 very rapid, jerky, and convulsive. The post mm'tem examination 

 revealed nothing very particular in the spinal canal, brain, nor 

 in any other organ. The flesh was not at all pale or ansemic, 

 as in the majority of the cases examined, and fat was abundant 

 and very healthy looking. 



During 1881 about three score of sheep and lambs were 

 examined after death, and about one-third of these were con- 

 sidered to have had " louping-ill," whilst others were found to 

 have had — (1.) " Joint-ill " (suppurative arthritis) ; (2.) Anaemia, 

 from pure starvation ; (3.) Impaction of tlie stomach with wool 

 in young lambs ; (4.) Al)scesses in various parts. 



In one lamb, sent in from Dumfriesshire in 1882, there was a 

 downward squint in both eyes even when in repose, but in 

 others there was no squinting unless under excitement, when, 

 as in the first case described, there was often a convulsive 

 motion in both eyes. 



We were informed that many sheep seemingly in good health 

 often made a jump and fell down, some dead, some completely 

 paralyzed, when suddenly frightened or approached by a dog, 

 and that there were very often no other indications of the disease. 



Causes. — These are ascribed to a variety of external circum- 

 stances, such as soil, pasture, geological formation, altitude, 

 weather, and the influence of ticks. 



I. Iiifitience of 'pasture, geological formation, and altitude. — 

 The late Mr. Brotherston, Kelso, who made an extensive exami- 

 nation of the geological formation of louping-ill districts, came to 

 the conclusion that it is found on very different soils, geological 

 formations, altitudes, — close to the sea, as in Skye, and on soils 

 and formations so far apart as the Lower Silurian, the Upper 

 Silurian, the Old Eed Sandstone, through the Carboniferous to 

 the Basalt of the Tertiary period, and that it existed equally 



