18 



The Rot in Sheep. 



objection ; but we reply, that flukes have frequently been found 

 in some of the carnivora, both wild and domesticated, and also 

 in the pig, which, it is true, is omnivorous, but whose diges- 

 tive powers are nevertheless not inferior to those of the carni- 

 vora. The entozoa have likewise been occasionally met with 

 in man, another of the omnivora. It may be affirmed, therefore, 

 that this theory of the origin of the disease, like many others, 

 is at fault ; to which may be added that it is only within, 

 comparatively speaking, a short space of time that a correct 

 explanation of the cause of rot has been ascertained. 



The year 1837 witnessed the publication of one of the best 

 works extant on the diseases of sheep, from the pen of the late 

 Mr. Youatt, entitled, Sheep ; their Breeds , Management, and 

 Diseases. It contains a lengthy article on rot, in which Mr. 

 Youatt not only gives his own experience, but culls from nearly all 

 those who had written before him upon the subject. He comes 

 to the conclusion that the disease is due to the inhalation of 

 miasm, and hence that it shows itself more particularly during 

 the summer months, though in its progress the disease is carried 

 over to the autumn, through the winter, and even into the next 

 year. 



His words are, that " floods in the latter part of the summer 

 are generally precursors of considerable destruction from rot. 

 The meadows when the water clears away must be in the highest 

 degree dangerous. The grass at this time had begun to die, the 

 outer leaves and some of the stalks were perishing ; they wanted 

 only the agency of heat and moisture to run into perfect de- 

 composition. The rain comes, and with it the summer's heat, 

 and the decomposition is rapid, and the extrication of poisonous 

 gases profuse." 



Again, " The nature of the herbage and the character of the 

 plants which the soil produces have nothing to do with the 

 development of the rot. It is caused simply by the extrication 

 of certain gases or miasmata during the decomposition of vege- 

 table matter, under the united influence of moisture and air." 



It is, however, not a little singular that Mr. Youatt, in stating 

 many facts with regard to the disease, should name one which 

 positively contradicts his theory with regard to miasm ; and 

 he appears to have done this without noticing it at the time. 

 The fact to which we allude is thus described : — " A farmer, in 

 addition to other land, had a dry, hilly sheep-pasture, which he 

 stocked rather hard. In a hollow place of that pasture was a 

 swampy pond, which was preserved for the sake of supplying 

 the wheel of the thrashing-machine. The farmer, notwith- 

 standing the dry and favourable nature of his sheep-pasture, had 

 occasional losses from rot in his flock. He fenced in the pond, 



