ROT. 363 



more than a million of sheep and lambs die every year by 

 this disease. '' In the wirrter of 1830-31 this number was 

 more than doubled ; and had the pestilence committed the 

 same ravages throughout the kingdom which it did in a few 

 of the middle, eastern, and southern counties, the breed of 

 sheep would have been, in a manner, extirpated." Many of 

 the farmers lost their entire flocks, not an individual sheep 

 escaping. 



It appears, however, the disease is not peculiar to Eng- 

 land. Many sheep are destroyed by it in Germany. In the 

 north of France they are frequently swept away by it ; and 

 in the winter of 1809 the ravages were terrific throughout 

 the kingdom. It has prevailed at some periods nearly over 

 all Europe, as far north as Norway. 



The compiler has jyo personal knowledge of this destruc- 

 tive malady, and is therefore compelled to rely on the ac- 

 count presented by Mr. Youatt, all of which that is of inter- 

 est is subjoined. 



" The early symptoms of this disease are exceedingly 

 obscure ; this is much to be deplored, because in the first^ 

 stage of it alone does it often admit of cure. The animal 

 is dull, lagging behind his companions — ^he does not feed so 

 well as usual. If suspicion has been a little excited by this, 

 the truth of the matter may easily be put to the test, for if 

 the wool is parted, and especially about the brisket, the skin 

 will have a pale yellow hue. 



" The eye of the sheep beginning to sicken with the rot 

 can never be mistaken ; it is injected, but pale ; the small 

 veins at the comer of the eye are turgid, but they are filled 

 with yellow serous fluid, and not with blood. Farmers very 

 properly pay great attention to this in their examination or 

 purchase of sheep. If the caruncle is red, they have a proof 

 which never fails them that the animal is healthy. There 

 • is no loss of condition, but quite the contrary, for the sheep 

 in the early stage of the rot has a great propensity to fatten. 

 Mr. Bakewell was aware of this, for he used to overflow 

 certain of his pastures, and when the water was run off " 

 turn those of his sheep there which he wanted to prepare for 

 the market. They speedily became rotted, and in the early 

 stage of the rot they accumulated flesh and fat with wonder- 

 ful rapidity. By this manoeuvre he used to gain five or six 

 weeks on his neighbors. '' 



" As the disease becomes confirmed the yellow tinge be- 



