94 



Tlie Rot in Sheep. 



those of other countries, where we shall also find abundant 

 proof of the same fact. Italian writers are very precise in their 

 statements respecting it, and so also are those of France and 

 Spain. With such a mass of practical and scientific evidence, 

 few persons, we imagine, would have the temerity to deny its 

 truth. It may, however, be rightly asked, upon what does 

 immunity depend ? The answer to the question is both easy 

 and satisfactory. Salt water is destructive to the cercaricB as 

 the embryos of the fluke eggs. These infusorial creatures live in 

 fresh water, and in this alone. It is only there that they can 

 pass through the several stages necessary for their ultimate de- 

 velopment into flukes when entering the digestive organs of 

 sheep. If flukes, however, should have taken up their abode 

 in the biliary ducts prior to the placing of the sheep on salt 

 marshes, they are beyond all reach of harm. The character of 

 the food will have but little effect on the entozoa, and the disease 

 will still progress, slowly it may be, to a fatal termination. 

 The cure spoken of by some authors is only apparent, not real. 

 Sheep, viz. sound ones, " thrive remarkably well," writes Price, 

 when thus located ; and we may add, so will many affected 

 animals for a time. 



That the utility of this change of pasturage to diseased 

 animals is not permanent, we have had many proofs in our 

 own experience, but will cite one only in corroboration. A 

 farmer living in Sussex sent in 1860 a number of rotten sheep to 

 the salt marshes of that county, with a hope of their being cured 

 thereby. For a few weeks the animals improved in condition, 

 thus encouraging his hopes ; but very soon they began to waste, 

 and ultimately all succumbed to the disease. Removal to salt 

 marshes as a preventive measure is valuable, but as a curative 

 one it is fallacious. It is, however, a preventive within the 

 reach only of very few persons, and even these may not use it 

 aright. They may keep their sheep at home too late in the 

 year, and until all the mischief has been done by the existence 

 of flukes in the system. 



The benefit of salt is so universally admitted that we might 

 be content to leave the question without further comment ; we 

 shall, however, offer a few additional remarks upon the prac- 

 tical application of this prophylactic agent ; but before doing so, 

 we are desirous of recording other supposed means of ancient 

 date for securing sheep against the disease. 



Crawshey advises the making of a malt liquor, and boiling in 

 it certain herbs, such as shepherd's-purse, comfrey, sage, worm- 

 wood, &c, and then to add salt in the proportion of 1^ lb. to 

 the gallon ; and " after Aprill come to give your sheepe seaven 

 or eight spoonefuls a peece, every weeke, once if the weather be 

 wet ; if it be dry, you neede not so often ; and thus continue till 



