490 Diseases of Sheep in Great Britain, [nov., 



During the spring of 1904 the Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries received a number of reports which led them to suspect 

 that, in some parts of the country at least, 

 Diseases of the abnormal rainfall of 1903, and the conse- 



^ e ^rit^,in Fea ^ °i uen t wet condition of pasture lands, had 

 led to an increase in the ailments to which 

 sheep are liable. In some cases the Board were asked to 

 furnish a remedy for some disease of which the local name 

 alone was given, while in other cases the symptoms were but 

 vaguely described. It was, consequently, difficult to identify 

 the disease. With the object of acquiring some general in- 

 formation as to the condition of the flocks throughout the 

 country, and of learning whether any special disease had been 

 more than usually prevalent, the Board decided to send a 

 circular to their Agricultural Correspondents asking for replies 

 to the following questions : — 



1. State the county and district about which you have information. 



2. State what breed of sheep is usually kept in the district. 



3. State whether any disease, fatal or otherwise, has during the past twelve 

 months occurred in your district, and if so, whether it attacked (i) all sheep, (2) 

 ewes, or (3) lambs. Give local name of disease, if known. 



4. State, if possible, the exact localities in which some of the worst cases have 

 occurred. 



5. State the nature of the soil where the disease is most frequently found, and 

 whether it is worst amongst sheep on {a) permanent pasture, (/>) temporary leys, or (c) 

 folded crop. 



6. State whether disease is attributed to any special condition of weather, pasture, 

 or crop. 



7. State whether it is customary to call in a veterinary surgeon, or whether the 

 farmer or shepherd treats the cases. 



8. What proportion of the flock is generally attacked? Give the approximate 

 percentage of recovery and death amongst affected animals. 



The Correspondents were also asked to describe the symptoms 

 (1) preliminary ; (2) during the course of disease ; (3) at the 

 time of death ; and (4) during recovery. 



About one-half of the Correspondents found themselves in 

 a position to comply with the Board's request, and although 

 in some instances the forms were but imperfectly filled up, 

 in many cases it is evident that a great deal of trouble was 

 taken to make enquiry throughout the district with which the 

 Correspondent was acquainted as to the prevalence or otherwise 

 of disease. The information obtained is therefore of consider- 



