The Rot in Sheep. 



99 



stances be productive of considerable mischief. We would 

 therefore put agriculturists on their guard respecting an abuse 

 of this valuable agent. 



A few years since we investigated a case where a number of 

 ewes began suddenly to "cast their lambs" about three weeks 

 before the time of parturition, all of which were dead. A 

 searching examination into the circumstances of the feeding and 

 management of the flock failed at first to elucidate the cause. 

 No objection could be taken to the condition of the animals, 

 their apparent state of health, or to the quality or quantity of their 

 food. Observing, however, at a subsequent date, that their 

 fa?culent matter was softer and larger in amount than ordinary, 

 and also stained with blood-coloured mucus, we at once suspected 

 the existence of a continued cause of intestinal irritation, and 

 made a remark to that effect. This drew from the shepherd the 

 expression, " I don't think they are right in their insides, for they 

 drink so much." A clue was obtained ; further questioning 

 brought out the fact that several "double handfuls" of salt had 

 been given twice a day with their food for very many weeks. We 

 expressed no dissent to what had been done, but requested the 

 shepherd to bring one of the "double handfuls 1 ' of which he 

 spoke. This done, we weighed it, and on calculating the quan- 

 tity, found it to exceed three-fourths of an ounce daily to each sheep. 



The cause of the evil was at once apparent. The blood of 

 the ewes had become so impregnated with saline matter that 

 it was unfitted for the further maintenance of the life of the 

 lambs, and hence the premature labours. We forbad entirely 

 the use of salt, but made no other alteration either with reference 

 to the food or management of the animals. As would be ex- 

 pected, the ewes continued to bring dead lambs lor a short time. 

 About a fortnight afterwards, however, a living one was horn, 

 and this was followed by others, with an occasional dead one in 

 a state of decomposition from long retention. But the evil was 

 checked by the cause being removed, and the rest of the Bock 

 subsequently brought forth an average number of healthy living 

 lambs. 



We need to add but little to these remarks respecting the 

 employment of salt in tin 1 prevention of rot, except to take 

 objection to suggestions which have been made to sow it on the 



land, with a view of destroying the cercarice. If one application 

 of it in a year would do this, even should the herbage suffer for 

 a time, we, perhaps, should not be found to dissent from the 

 practice. But when we remember that the natural historj >'t 



the Distoma hepatlCUm reveals the fact that brood alter brood of 



cercarice is being produced from ova, cast almost uninterruptedly 

 out of the intestines of rotten sheep, and that the hatching 

 process consequently goes regularly on week by week) we see 



