24 



The Rot in Sheep. 



which were in the course of being killed, and which were all believed to be 

 sound, three at a time were selected for the trial of each of these remedies, 

 and put on the meadows. At the end of three weeks their livers were inva- 

 riably found to be more or less infected, while the livers of the others of the 

 same lot which had not been on the meadows, and which had remained in 

 their usual dry pastures, remained unaffected. 



" This continued for some time ; but at last two wethers which had not 

 been on the meadows were found to have diseased livers, and therefore it can- 

 not bs affirmed with perfect certainty that the subjects of the experiment had 

 taken the disease in spite of the remedies, because it is just possible that, 

 like the two last, they might all have taken the infection at some previous 

 period." 



To this statement F. B. replied : — 



" In vol. v. p. 503 of this Journal is an article entitled, ' On Water- 

 Meadows causing Rot in Sheep' The very extraordinary circumstances 

 detailed in that communication led me at first to think it an imaginary case, 

 given to the public for the purpose of provoking discussion ; as lawyers say, 

 ' a case stated for counsel's opinion.' But on farther consideration I shall treat 

 it as a real one. 



" The writer says, 'About the year 1808 some land, part of which had been 

 under water, much of which was a bog, and part of which was nearly dry, 

 was drained, levelled, and irrigated. Although it was drained, and was so 

 far dry that horses could at all times walk upon it, yet it produced coarse 

 herbage, rushes, and even some flags. In this state it remained at least 

 fifteen years, and during the whole of that time it was constantly fed on by 

 ewes and lambs in the spring, and no instance was ever known of any of 

 these sheep ever showing the slightest symptom of rot.' To this part of the 

 statement I have to observe, that ewes and lambs are not liable to rot when 

 pastured upon water-meadows in spring. It would have been satisfactory to 

 have been informed whether sheep of any kind were close-pastured upon the 

 meadow in its then partially improved state, either in in wet summers or in 

 autumn, and what was the result of such pasturage?" 



F. B. then quotes the whole of the second paragraph ending 

 with the question — 



" ' What can he the reason why land which when less drained tvas fed by 

 sheep with impunity rots them now when it is much better drained V 



" This negative question," he continues, " appears to me as if put for a 

 similar purpose to that of the witty King Charles in regard to the weight of 

 live and dead salmon ; and in answer I will apply the sentiment expressed 

 by one of the sages on that occasion : ' Before 1 assign a reason, I could wish 

 to prove the fact.' On entering upon this discussion it is but fair to acknow- 

 ledge I do so under a considerable degree of prejudice, because I have experi- 

 ence of many instances of low marshy grass-land when in a state of nature, or 

 but partially improved, rotting the sheep pastured upon it ; and that land, 

 on being subsequently thoroughly drained or converted into well-ordered 

 water-meadows, did not rot sheep fed upon it in proper season. But I will 

 endeavour to show, from the querist's own statement, it is probable that he 

 has come to an erroneous conclusion in estimating the capability of his water- 

 meadow. 



" 1. The System of Irrigation. — The most proper method of irrigating low 

 marshy ground, such as the meadow described, is the bed or ridge system. It 

 is not probable the meadow in question was so formed, because, if it had been, 

 the occupier would not have ploughed it up, cultivated it, and cropped it with 



