DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 463 



stage of its varied existence, and also the Limnoiua truncatulus 

 which serves as intermediary host. The rot is unknown in salt- 

 marshes, and where sheep feed on sea-weeds. Lime also kills 

 the cercariae, land well dressed with caustic lime or salt not 

 being capable of producing sheep-rot. The months in which the 

 eggs are first swallowed are May, June, and July, though the 

 results may only be observed as late as September and October. 

 The snail is buried in mud in the winter, the eggs being hatched 

 perhaps in April, if the weather is warm, or more probably in 

 May, June, or July. 



If sheep graze for only a brief time on certain land, they may 

 swallow the cysts with the herbage, and afterwards contract the 

 rot. Great cold kills the fluke in its diflFerent stages, and it is 

 said that one single night of frost may put a stop to the danger 

 for the year. 



When sheep are supposed to be infected, if the disease is in 

 the first stage, they should be removed to a good dry pasture, 

 and should be supplied with a dry, liberal, and nourishing diet. 

 Good hay, beans, peas and a moderate allowance of oil-cake and 

 turnips may be allowed, and it is well to change the food now 

 and again. It is also advisable to give a quarter of an ounce of 

 salt well mixed with half a pint of oats every day to sheep kept 

 on a permanent pasture. Sheep so treated have been preserved, 

 while others subjected to the same conditions in other respects, 

 but not so treated, perished. The Bedouin Arabs allow infected 

 sheep to feed upon the salt-wort^ and Australians use the salt- 

 hush for the same purpose. Good food strengthens the sheep, 

 while salt kills the fluke, and also aids digestion. 



Breeding ewes, however, must not have much salt. A useful 

 formula is the following, which, we believe, is that of Professor 

 Simonds : — 



Finely-ground oilcake (linseed) ... ... 1 bushel. 



,, 5, Pea meal ... ... ... 1 bushel. 



„ ,, Salt 4 lbs. 



,, ,, Aniseeds ... 4 lbs. 



,, ,, Sulphate of iron ... ... lib. 



The salt, aniseeds, and sulphate of iron are to be first well 

 mixed together, and then well mixed with the mixture of cake 

 and pea-meal. Half a pint of the finally resulting mixture may 

 be given to each animal daily, in addition to an ordinary allow- 



