The Rot in Sheep, 



93 



probability was used in Mascall's time, it will weigh 70 lbs. 

 Putting the weight at the lowest, viz. 64 lbs., merely for the sake 

 of a position, and making an allowance also for the estimated 

 differences in the size of the bushels at the different periods 

 spoken of, we have the enormous quantity of 10*24 ozs. of salt 

 for each sheep; or supposing Sir H. Spel man's statement of the 

 bushel — wine — to be correct also with regard to the measure of 

 corn and salt, then about half this amount of salt would be used ; 

 a quantity which we have shown could not be taken without 

 serious risk to the life of the animal. 



Leaving this question thus somewhat undetermined, we pro- 

 ceed to quote from other authorities on the prevention of rot. 



Gervase Markham, alluding to the means to be adopted, 

 says : — 



" This disease is the cruellest of all other amongst sheepe, and extendedi 

 his violence ouer towneships and countries; and though it be held of most 

 men incureahle, yet good gouerment, and this receit 1 shall deliuer you, will 

 not onely preuent, but preserue your sheepe safe. Therefore as soone as you 

 perceiue that any of your sheepe are tainted, you shall take Adraces, which 

 is a certain salt gathered from the salt marshes in the heat of sommer, when 

 the tide going away, and leaning certaine drops of salt water on the grasse, 

 then the violent heat of the sunne turns it to salt : and to speake briefely, all 

 salt made by violence of the sunnes heat onely is taken lor Ad 'races, of which 

 there is an infinite store in Spaine. With this Adraces rubbe the mouthes 

 of all your sheepe once a weeke, and you shall neuer need to fear the rotting 

 of them, for it hath beene well tried; and as I imagine the experiment was 

 found out from this ground. It is a rule, and well knownc at this day in 

 Lincohieshire and in Kent, that upon the salt marshes sheepe did neuer die 

 of the rot ; no other reason being knowne therefore, but the licking up of that 

 salt, and without doubt it is most infallible and most easie." 



The allusion made in the foregoing extract to the security 

 given to sheep by placing them on salt marshes is the earliest we 

 have yet met with, and as these remarks were penned in 1614 

 we have satisfactory proof of the antiquity of the opinion. 

 Later on we find many authors making mention of the same 

 circumstance with more or less precision, and some even stating 

 that affected shcej) are cured hy being removed to such pasturage. 



Price, in describing the management of Komnev Marsh 

 sheep, says : " I know many acres of pasture land in the marsh 

 which the tide frequently overflows, and sheep are constantly 

 fed upon afterwards. They are fond of feeding upon these wet 

 salts; but more so after a shower of rain. They thrive remark- 

 ably well, and arencver known to rot, though the ground is always 

 saturated with moisture, and the grass has particles of earth 

 adhering to it : two causes which many think produce the rot. 

 Sheep affected with this disease soon die, or recover if put upon 

 this land." 



If more evidence be required to show the immunity enjoyed 

 by sheep thus located, we would turn from our own authors to 



