Hie Rot in Sheep. 



29 



inflammation of the liver was the late Mr. Youatt. He spoke 

 very decidedly on the point, and attributed all the lesions 

 which are observed in the body to this one primary cause. 

 This view of the pathology of the malady seems to have 

 emanated from Dr. Harrison, who affirms that "Rot always 

 commences with inflammatory symptoms, and generally with an 

 exudation of coagulable lymph under the tunic of the liver. In 

 five or six days after contracting the rot, the thin edge of the 

 liver," he says, " becomes of a transparent white or bluish 

 colour, and this spreads along the upper and lower sides, 

 according to the severity of the complaint. In severe cases the 

 whole peritoneum investing the liver is diseased, and then it 

 commonly assumes an opaque colour, interspersed with dark- 

 red lines or patches." 



Similar views were held by Hurtrel D'Arboval and by Davey. 

 The latter-named author, after describing several morbid states 

 of the liver, which he enumerates as " enlargement, induration, 

 gangrene, concretions, &c," says, " Now, we are well assured 

 that these appearances never occur without the existence of 

 previous inflammatory action. Inflammation of the liver is a 

 state of disease which it is evident has taken place." 



It is not a little remarkable that not only surgeons, but also 

 such eminent veterinary authorities as Youatt and Hurtrel 

 D'Arboval, should have committed so great a mistake respect- 

 ing a disease of such common occurrence. Every farmer knows 

 that sheep give little or no evidence of ill-health at the com- 

 mencement of rot, and that, when they do sicken, the symptoms 

 indicate not an inflammatory state of any organ, but a marked 

 debility and prostration of the vital powers. We may here, how- 

 ever, leave the further consideration of this statement, more 

 particularly as its fallacy will fully appear when we come to 

 a detailed account of the symptoms of the disease. 



Thus far the opinions which we have quoted on the pathology 

 of rot may be regarded rather as exceptions than otherwise, since 

 the majority of authors agree in regarding it as a dropsical 

 disease, associated with a disordered liver, depending on impure, 

 watery, or improper diet. 



In confirmation of this view it has often been said that both 

 hares and rabbits take the rot in wet seasons and die therefrom. 

 Our post-mortem examinations of these animals, when diseased, 

 have not been numerous ; but, singularly enough, we have rarely 

 failed to find a limited number of flukes in the biliary ducts. 

 In the exceptional cases, the liver has been enlarged and 

 softened, and its vessels turgid with imperfectly clotted blood — 

 very dark in colour. The general hue of the organ has varied, 

 being in some places paler and in others of a deeper colour than 



