THE EOT IN SHEEP. 825 



BulDstance, and likewise as hard as to approach the nature of 

 cartilage." 



Eespecting the number of the flukes, the greatest variation 

 exists. Dr Cobbold says — " The presence of a few flukes is 

 totally insufficient to cause death ; consequently, when a sheep 

 dies from rot or is killed at a time when the disease has 

 seriously impoverished the animal, then we are sure to find the 

 organ occupied by many dozen, many score, or even several 

 hundred flukes. Thus from a single liver Bidlow obtained 800, 

 Leuwenhoeck about 900, and Dupuy upwards of 1000 specimens. 

 Even the occurrence of large numbers only destroys the animal 

 by slow degrees, and possibly without producing much physical 

 suffering, excepting perhaps in the later stages. Associated 

 with the above described appearances, one not unfrequently 

 finds a few flukes in the intestinal canal, whilst a stOl more 

 interesting pathological feature is seen in the fact that the bile 

 contained in the liver ducts is loaded with flukes' eggs. In 

 some cases there cannot be less than tens or even hundreds of 

 thousands. Not a few may also be found in the intestinal canal, 

 and in the excreta about to be voided." And lastly, says the 

 same author, " it need scarcely be added that it is by no means 

 imfrequent to find one or even several other kinds of entozoa 

 coexisting with the fasciola in the same sheep, the most common 

 form being that of the larval echinococcus." 



TREATMENT, 



All observers agree that the growth and development of the 

 fluke is impossible on dry land, and that the disease is unheard 

 of on dry pastures except during wet seasons, and as the " rot," 

 once established, is difficult to overcome, it behoves the flock- 

 master to pay every attention to its prevention. For this pur- 

 pose it is necessary that unsound sheep pastures should, after 

 being drained, for a time at least, be applied to other purposes. 



During moist seasons, and when there is a fear of the disease 

 appearing on sound pastures, the natural food should be supple- 

 mented by cakes, corn, beans, or other nutritious diet, in addi- 

 tion to common salt and the sulphate of iron. 



As to the beneficial effect of common salt, all writers are 

 agreed that it prevents the development of the parasites, for it 



