100 



TUe Rot in Sheep. 



the necessity for frequent repetitions of salt in the same year, 

 which could not fail to be highly injurious to the pasturage, and 

 especially on retentive clays, where rot prevails. Repeated small 

 dressings of lime we can conceive to be nearly, if not quite, as 

 efficacious as those of salt in destroying cercarice, and these would 

 stimulate a growth of the better grasses, besides proving of per- 

 manent benefit to the soil. 



Our province lies, however, more with the science of medicine 

 in the treatment and prevention of disease, than with the science 

 or practice of agriculture ; but unless some knowledge of the latter 

 accompanies the former, the veterinary pathologist will often fail 

 in detecting the causes of disease, and therefore in rightly sug- 

 gesting either preventive or curative measures. The fundamental 

 principles of preventing the rot of sheep consist, as has been 

 explained, in the destruction of the liver-fluke in one or other of 

 the several stages of its development from the egg to the perfect 

 entozoon, and as an adjuvant to this, the science and practice of 

 agriculture must be brought to bear. Veterinary medicine and 

 agriculture are kindred sciences, and the closer their union, the 

 greater will be the advantages derived by each. 



We must not, however, be drawn aside by an inviting theme 

 of this kind ; but rather perhaps bring our exposition of this 

 disease to a conclusion by remarking, that if we would save 

 sheep from rot, we must thoroughly underdrain wet lands, and 

 thus improve the condition of the soil and the quality of the 

 herbage — that we must well protect sheep in seasons of ex- 

 cessive rainfall — that we must provide for their nutrition by 

 supplying them with a rich and generous diet, flesh-forming and 

 heat-supporting, in proportion to the demands made on the 

 system, and lastly — that we must exhibit such medicinal agents 

 which experience has shown will effect the destruction of the 

 liver-fluke in the earliest stages of its existence, and prior also 

 to its entrance into the biliary ducts. These means must be 

 begun early, and hot too hastily laid aside. Most of them will 

 likewise have a general as well as a special application in 

 providing for the well-being of the flock. 



We close this important subject of the rot in sheep by quoting 

 the appropriate lines of the poet of Mantua : — 



" On winter seas we fewer storms behold, 

 Than foul diseases, that infect the fold ; 

 Nor do those ills on single bodies prey, 

 But oft'ner bring the nation to decay, 

 And sweep the present stock and future hope away." 



* Dryden's translation. £y? OS?i<>fCStA£ d J^fff* 



tfriailicidl £><P\ 



LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET 

 AND CHARING CROSS. 



