35 



siderable part of the country, and only ceased in 1850, principally 

 through slaughtering the infected sheep. 



The next attack occurred in 1862, and continued for several 

 months. 



The tliird visitation was in June, 18G5. Active measures were 

 at once adopted, and the disease was stamped out with the 

 destruction of the flock first affected. 



The fourth outbreak occurred in January, 1860, and was 

 eradicated in the same way. 



The Jifth and sixfh outbreaks occurred later in 1866, and the 

 attacks were so very mild that the slaughter of the afli'ected sheep 

 was not resorted to. They were placed in strict quarantine, and 

 the disease shortly disappeared. 



Since then there have been no outbreaks of sheep-pox in 

 England, although no less than thirteen different lots of sheep, 

 shipped from the Continent, have been seized and slaughtered by 

 the Inspectors at the ports of debarkation as being infected with 

 small-pox — the last in 1871. 



6. — Sheep-pox on the Co^"TI:!fE^'T. 



From what has been said, it will be gathered that visitations 

 of sheep-pox are not infrequent in almost every Country on the 

 Continent. Last year, there were comparatively few outbreaks. 

 The only ones of any importance were those in the North and 

 North-eastern Districts of Grermany. 



As already stated, medical treatment has been found of little 

 or no benefit for this disease ; and inoculation has been resorted 

 to as the only means (other than stamping out) for combating 

 the disease.; it alleviates the effects of the disease, and forces it 

 to run its course within a specified time. The practice of inocu- 

 lation is followed by all the highest veterinary authorities on the 

 Continent. 



Professor Brown speaks thus of the benefits of Inoculation 

 for sheep-pox : — 



" The argument against inoculation is the obvious one that it 

 keeps up the disease in the infected district for a certain period, 

 but the same statement might correctly be made of the negative 

 course, which consists in allowing the infection to pass naturally 

 to the susceptible animals. 



" Experience justifies the conclusion that sheep-pox, when it 

 appears in a flock, will extend gradually to nearly all the 

 animals that have been exposed to its influence, and under these 

 circumstances, if it is determined not to adopt the stamping-out 

 system, it will be desirable to hasten the progress of the disease 

 and moderate its virulence by having recourse to inoculation. 

 The disease thus induced appears usually in a mild form, and is 



