OUE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 69 



ing the best mode of arresting or annihilating the rot 

 epidemics of the future. 



As to the means of effecting radical cures (in cases 

 where the ovine patients already exhibit the pendulous 

 abdomen or protuberant belly, the razor-back condition 

 of the spine, the tottering gait and cedematous state of 

 the subcutaneous tissues, dryness of the skin and falling 

 off of the wool, general emaciation and commencing 

 scour, together with other equally characteristic symp- 

 toms), it is quite useless and a mere waste of money to 

 adopt any of the much-vaunted nostrums, or even the 

 less empirical methods of treatment which have been so 

 urgently recommended. In such cases the best palliative 

 measures fail; while such abominations as soot, assafoe- 

 tida, turpentine, oleaginous mixtures, and even the ex- 

 hibition of the usually valuable salines themselves, only 

 tend to hasten the fatal result. 



Finally, in regard to other flukes found in the sheep 

 (Distoma lanceolcdum and Amjphistoma conicum), I have 

 only to add that at present we have no certain evidence 

 as to the powers they severally possess of proving 

 injurious to their ovine bearers. 



Tapeworms in the sheep are not of common occur- 

 rence ; nevertheless they occasionally make their appear- 

 ance in numbers sufficient to cause a fatal epizootic. So 

 far as I am aware, only one species of cestode ( in the 

 adult condition) is known to attack sheep ; this is the 

 u long tapeworm/'' or Tcenia eoipansa. On the Continent 

 this entozoon seems to be more prevalent than it is with 

 ourselves ; but accurate information is needed on this 

 part of the subject, as well as upon the development of 

 the parasite. As regards its occurrence in England, 

 what we do know is chiefly due to the account 



