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VI. — The Rot in Sheep : its Nature, Cause, Treatment, and 
Prevention. By James Beaut Simonds, Professor of Cattle 
Pathology at the Royal Veterinary College, Veterinary Inspector 
to the Royal Agricultural Society, &c. 
Introductory Observations. 
We repeat but a truism when ue say that the health of the 
animals of the farm, especially that of cattle, sheep, and pigs, 
influences to a considerable extent the amount of wholesome food 
Avhich is available for the people ; besides which, that it is also 
an abiding source of solicitude to the agriculturist, for upon 
it very frequently depends his own immediate success in the 
practice of his profession. Whenever, therefore, disease assumes 
an extraordinary type, spreading far and wide, and destroying 
in its progress many of the animals which supply our daily 
wants, the interests not only of the agriculturist, but of the 
entire community, are so far jeopardised, that on all sides 
inquiries are made as to the means which are best calculated to 
effect a diminution either of the extension or fatality of the 
malady. 
During the past year — 1860 — an event of this kind was 
witnessed in the immense losses which occurred among sheep 
from rot : nor can it be affirmed that even now these have 
entirely ceased, or that any additional securitv exists against the 
disease being equally as destructive in succeeding years. Under 
such circumstances it is evident that benefit can alone arise from 
an accurate investigation of the pathology of the affection, as also 
of its causes, and of the laws regulating its spread. An inquiry 
of this kind was originally ordered to be made by the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society, which had, as its immediate result, the delivery of 
a lecture on the subject before the members, by the author of the 
present thesis. The views then given expression to were thought 
of sufficient practical importance to warrant their publication in 
a more available form for future reference than was afforded by 
the columns of the daily press ; and accordingly the author was 
instructed to arrange the matter both for a pamphlet and also 
the pages of the Society's Journal. 
Antiquity and Extent of Rot. 
The frequent occurrence, insidious progress, and fatality of rot 
place it at the head of the most serious affections to which sheep 
are liable. In this country no single disease produces such destruc- 
tive effects ; but on the Continent its fatality is probably now and 
then equalled by the ovine small-pox, a malady against which our 
sheep are protected in a great measure by our insular position. 
