Rot in Sheep. 



^5 



valleys, &c, but it may occur in the high lands. It is also more 

 frequent in wet than in dry seasons, and is most prevalent after 

 prolonged rains in the late summer and autumn. It is often 

 associated with the presence of " carnation grass ; ' and similar 

 sedges, and many farmers look with suspicion on land that 

 carries these plants. 



From the preceding sketch of the life history of the fluke it 

 will be evident that the conditions necessary for the propagation 

 of the disease in any district are : — 



1. The presence of fluke eggs. 



2. Wet, marshy ground or pools suitable for the hatching 



of the ova. 



3. The special snail {Limnaea truncatuld) to act as inter- 



mediate host. 



4. The presence of sheep or other animals to swallow the 



encysted parasite and thus become infected. 



Preventive and Remedial Measures. 



Sheep ought not to be purchased from a flock reared on fluky 

 ground. 



Those sheep which are affected with fluke should be sent to 

 the butcher at once while in a marketable condition, and the 

 others moved on to dry ground. 



The livers of the slaughtered sheep should be destroyed, or, if 

 used for dogs' food, they should first be well boiled, as otherwise 

 the fresh eggs may pass uninjured through the intestines of the 

 dog and thus infect the soil. 



If rabbits and hares are plentiful on infected ground, they 

 should be kept down, as there is an idea that they may spread 

 the disease ; there is no proof, however, that they do so. 



If infected animals have been pastured on a given piece of 

 ground, it would be advisable to have the droppings spread 

 by chain-harrowing, so as to assist in drying them, and thus 

 hasten the destruction of the eggs ; a little lime would assist 

 this. 



Drain if possible. 



When practicable, dressing the ground in late summer and 

 autumn with salt alone, or with a mixture of salt and lime, will 

 usually be attended with good results. Sheep should also have 



