CHAPTER LXXV. 



PAEASITIC DISEASES— continued. 

 TEEMATODA. 



EOT IN SHEEP. 



EoT is a disease of low lands, marshy grounds, and wet seasons, 

 and observers are agreed that the flooding of pastures suffices 

 to taint them for a season, owing to the dissemination of the 

 Distomata ; for it is pretty satisfactorily proved that the ova of 

 the fluke pass out through the intestines of the sheep, and fall 

 on the pastures. The ova hatch in moist places, and become 

 transformed into ciliated embryos, which, when set free, swim 

 rapidly in the water, and ihus spread over pastures in wet 

 seasons. 



Eemarkable outbreaks of this disease have occurred in Eng- 

 land. Erofessor Simonds, in his essay, records the outbreaks of 

 1809, 1816, 1824, 1830, 1853, and 1860. " In the outbreak of 

 1853-54 many thousands of sheep were swept away, and not only 

 in undrained districts, but also in others of a more healthy 

 character. But since 1830, however, no outbreak can at all be 

 compared to the one of the autumn of 1860. Speaking in 

 general terms, it may be affirmed that all the western and 

 southern counties of England, together with several of the 

 eastern and midland, suffered to a ruinous extent. As in former 

 years so in this, the attacks of the disease were due to an excess 

 and long continuance of wet weather. 1860 will long be remem- 

 bered by agriculturists, not only as producing the rot among 

 sheep, but likewise for its baneful effects on the root crops, as 

 also on the hay and corn harvests." 1872 again was a wet year, 

 and rot was very prevalent, appearing on land that was con- 

 sidered sound during ordinary seasons. 



