The Shepherds' Gmde. 107 



by pressing the tumour xvith the finger^ a7id 

 forcing out the matter^ in order to take it on the 

 point of a lancet, I now visited Mr. Broom's 

 flock, where I found the disease in a more recent 

 state ; and on comparing what I there saw with 

 the appearances in my own flock, and with a 

 most full and accurate description of the disease, 

 published in a treatise on cattle, by Mr. John 

 Mills, London, 1786 : no farther doubt remained. 

 We had introduced into our flocks the claveaii^ 

 sheep poXy a disease in many respects resembling, 

 and equally infectious with the small pox, in the 

 human species. The first idea was to stop the 

 infection, by carefuil}' sc parating the sick from the 

 healthy sheep ; which we found, as I believe it al- 

 ways will be found, a vain attempt, as far as it re- 

 gards those sheep with which the infected have 

 run, even for a short time : but which, on the 

 other hand, has proved a perfect and complete 

 protection for such flocks as have not actually run. 

 together ; even where the distance dividing such 

 flocks was so small a space as a narrow lane of two 

 rods wide. I have kept ail this winter and spring a 

 flock of half-blood, which have hadno greater sepa- 

 ration than such a lane ; and whilst every sheep and 

 lamb in my sick flock has had the disease, not 

 one of either in the other has taken it ; nor has 

 the disease appeared in any of my neighbours' 

 flock, nor in those of Mr. Broom's neighbours. 

 The sheep pox commences by a heavy, watery, 



