igod.] 



LOUPING-ILL AND BrAXY. 



LOUPING-ILL AND BRAXY. 



The Departmental Committee appointed by the President of 

 the Board of Agriculture in 1901 to enquire into the aetiology, 

 pathology, and morbid anatomy, and other matters connected 

 with the diseases of sheep known as Louping-ill and Braxy, has 

 flow presented its report. The members of the Committee were 

 Professor D. J. Hamilton, M.B., F.R.C.S.E., of Aberdeen Uni- 

 versity ; Mr. J. McI. McCall, M.B., CM., M.R.C.V.S., Assistant 

 Veterinary Officer of the Board of Agriculture ; and Mr. E. G. 

 Wheler, of Alnwick. Mr. R. B. Greig, F.H.A.S., F.R.S.E., 

 of Aberdeen University, acted as Secretary and Demonstrator, 

 while Mr. J. McL. Young, F.R.C.V.S., Lecturer on Veterinary 

 .Hygiene, Aberdeen University, and Mr. A. H. Berry, F.R.C.V.S., 

 Superintending Veterinary Inspector, Board of Agriculture, 

 were also^appointed to assist in the work of the Committee. 

 . The report of the Committee, which contains results of very 

 great scientific interest and also of much practical importance 

 to sheep-owners, is published in three parts,* of which Part III. 

 is a general summary of the investigations specially prepared 

 for the use of flock-owners and farmers. 



The general features of the two diseases are described as 

 follows 



- Louping-ill —TYa^ disease appears to be confined to the 

 British Isles. It is very prevalent in the West and South of 

 Scotland and the North of England. The mortality caused by 

 louping-ill under normal conditions, although it may rise as 

 high as 50 per cent.,_does not commonly exceed 20 per cent., 

 even in the worst districts. If, however, sheep are moved from 

 "clean" or healthy to " foul " or infected ground, it is well 

 known that excessive mortality is likely to be the result. Sheep 

 are subject to- louping-ill at all ages, but mpre especially during 

 their first year, and other animals, such as cattle, pigSj and even 

 geese are occasionally attacked. 



The disease takes two forms, chronic and acute. , In the 

 former, the sheep is usuallj convulsed at first, and: afterwards, 

 more or less paralysed,, lying sometimes for weeks unable to 



* Part I., General Repof-t [Cd. 2932], pnce' 3|d/,' ' Part 'II., Details of Investigation 

 [Cd. 2933], price 4s; Part rn;,;Siml^iiMy .of Suggestions, [Cd..^ price 2d. 



