CHAPTER II. 

 Diseases of the Chest. 



FLUKE, OR LIVER ROT. 



Symptoms. — The name rot has been given to many 

 diseases, which are, however, widely different in their 

 character. But this complaint is a distinct malady, 

 exhibiting characters peculiar to itself. The lungs, 

 liver, and whole system are affected, and water is 

 effused into the abdominal cavity. The chief seat of 

 the malady seems to be the liver, which is always 

 found in a diseased state ; and a species of worm, 

 called the fluke-worm, is found lodged in the bile 

 ducts. The sheep invariably falls off in flesh, which 

 also becomes flabby ; the eyes are heavy, dull, and 

 yellow in colour, and the animal appears stupid, and 

 weak. The gums and tongue are of a livid hue ; 

 and the breast loses its fine rosy colour ; the breath 

 is fetid, and the teeth become loose. The wool parts 

 from the skin easily, and in some instances the animal 

 scours. 



Causes. — Sheep that are fed upon dry, and especi- 

 ally mountain land, are seldom subject to this malady. 

 On the contrary, it has been ascertained that those 

 fed on low, wet pastures are liable to be attacked by 

 this complaint. It has been especially remarked to 

 affect sheep brought from hill-pastures to those which 

 are damp and luxuriant, for the sake of speedily 



