The Rot in Sheep. 



87 



Salt cannot be dispensed with. It does good in several ways. 

 It is an agent which acts as a stimulant to the process of diges- 

 tion, and, by its ready solution and free entrance into the blood, 

 it will supply the amount of soda which is required for the 

 secretion of bile — the saline constituents of which include the 

 chloride of sodium — common salt — and potassium, with the 

 phosphates and sulphates of soda, potash, lime, and magnesia. 

 Another advantage connected with the exhibition of salt and its 

 entrance into the blood is that it contributes with other saline 

 and albuminous matters to preserve that proper specific gravity 

 of the fluid which ought to be " equivalent to that of the contents 

 of the red corpuscles, as it is only in this condition that the 

 formation of the latter can duly take place." — [Carpenter.) 



The other medicinal agent to which we refer as indispensable 

 is the sulphate of iron. As a tonic it is excelled by few, if by 

 any, therapeutic agents ; while the readiness by which it can be 

 obtained, and the lowness of its price, give it an advantage over 

 many others. Sheep also do not refuse to take it with their food 

 when mixed in proper proportions ; nor is it a matter of much 

 moment if one animal should perchance get rather more than 

 his fellow, by more rapid or longer feeding at the trough. 

 Sulphate of iron is likewise an excellent anthelmintic, quickly 

 leading to the expulsion of several of the varieties of intestinal 

 worms. Its chief use, however, in rot is that it is a powerful 

 agent in the reproduction of the red cells of the blood — iron 

 entering largely into the contents of these cells — the hamiato- 

 glohuline. In all diseases, therefore, in which there is a diminished 

 power of producing red cells, the sulphate of iron is a valuable 

 remedy. 



Stomachics or carminatives are likewise required, and of 

 these we give a preference to aniseed in this affection. 



A good compound of these medicinal agents with some highly 

 nitrogenised alimentary matters we have in the following 

 formula. Take of 



Finely-ground oilcake (linseed) ) h ± fe h j 

 „ pea-meal J 



salt leach 4 lbs. 



„ aniseed J 



„ sulphate of iron . . . . 1 lb. 



Let the salt, aniseed, and sulphate of iron be mixed together 

 first, and afterwards well incorporated with the cake and pea- 

 meal. 



We have the authority of eminent chemists for saying that 

 even when solutions of salt and sulphate of iron are mixed to- 

 gether in the proportions here recommended they undergo but 

 little change. The products of the change are sulphate of soda 



