The Rot. ill Sheep. 
131 
the surface of the field. This desire for water evidently de- 
pends on the continued drain from the blood of this important 
constituent of its composition. No less than 784 parts out of 
every thousand of pure blood consist of water. The relative pro- 
portions of its constituents may be here given, as it will help to 
explain many of the phenomena of the disease. They are as 
follows : — 
Water 784- 
Eed corpuscles 131' 
Albiuiien of serum 70* 
Saline matters 6'03 
Extractive, fattv, and other matters G"77 
Fibriue.. 2-2 
1000- 
Associated with the increased thirst is an irregular state of the 
bowels. For a few days together diarrhoea will be present, when 
it gives way to the ordinary condition of the faeces. A persistence 
of this variable state of the evacuations, when not traceable to a 
change of food, or other common causes, is to be regarded as a 
suspicious circumstance. It is often due to an altered state of 
the bile, by which the fluid acts as an irritant to the mucous 
membrane of the intestines : sometimes, however, it would appear 
to depend on an irregular flow of this fluid from the biliary ducts. 
The distomata by their movements must occasionally form 
mechanical impediments to the free passage of the bile, leading 
firstly to its accumulation, and then its sudden flow onwards, 
when the obstruction is removed, particularly when they locate 
themselves within the ductus communis choledoc/ius. 
As the disease advances to its fatal termination the breathing 
becomes short and quick, and is occasionally accompanied with 
a slight and nearly inaudible cough. QEdematous swellings come 
on in different parts of the body, especially around the throat 
and beneath the lower jaw. The accumulation of the effused 
fluid in this situation is to be referred chiefly to the pendant 
position of the head in feeding. There is no surer proof of 
approaching death than these cedematous swellings, for they indi- 
cate a dropsical condition of the entire system. The prostration 
of the vital powers day by day increases. The pulse becomes 
weak, wavering, and indistinct. The animal lies a good deal, 
refuses all food, is in a state of semi-stupor, and dies from pure 
exhaustion, as the consequence of general anaemia. 
Progress and Duration. 
Many causes are in operation to influence the rapidity with 
which the organism of the sheep yields to the influence of rot. 
K 2 
