144 
The Rot in Sheep. 
Before commenting on any of the foregoing methods of treat- 
ing rot, we purpose to give the one which is adopted by the 
Bedouin Arabs. We learn from the writings of MM. Hamont 
and Fischer, previously cpioted, that when the Nile returns to its 
bed, the slieep of the Arabs go to feed on the di/sse which springs 
up on the partially-recovered land (sec p. 77), and as soon as 
" the first symptoms of the affection appear, the vigilant Bedouins 
lose not a moment ; they reassemble their flocks, and drive them 
back to the desert. In the midst of the sands their principal 
food is the salt-tcort " — Sahola Kali. After some days the 
symptoms of the rot gradually disappear, and the sheep regain 
their former health." It further appears that the Bedouins know 
of no other remedy, and should this not prove beneficial, they 
proceed to slaughter the affected animals. 
To return to some of the opinions we have quoted ; and first, a 
word with regard to Sir G. S. Mackenzie's mercurial inunction. 
Apart from the arguments advanced against it by Mr. Youatt, in 
the extract we have given, we object to this method of employing 
mercury, as being perfectly useless. No amount of absorption 
of the agent from the skin could possibly affect the vitality of the 
flukes ; and as the cause of the malady would remain unchecked, 
so must its effects necessarily continue. But even a greater objec- 
tion could be raised against it than this. Mercury is well known 
to produce a particular effect on the blood, lessening the amount 
of its fibrine, and rendering the fluid aplastic, and therefore doing 
the very thing we desire to avoid in this disease. It is only by 
our keeping the blood rich in its proximate principles, as has 
been elsewhere pointed out, that the system is enabled the longer 
to resist the progress of the malady. For similar reasons we dis- 
sent entirely from Mr. Youatt's advice to use mercury in con- 
junction with opium. This compound would be of great value 
succeeding upon the withdrawal of blood and the exhibition of 
aperient medicine in active iriflammation of the liver, as also in a 
similar condition of other organs, but it is positively injurious 
in rot. We are unable to reconcile Mr. Youatt's treatment with 
anything belonging to the pathology of this disease. It can only 
be accounted for by his having erred in considering the affection 
originally as one of inflammation. 
With reference to Clater's prescription, which, as has been 
explained, is but a type of many others of similar origin, we have 
a good proof of the want of scientific knowledge which gene- 
rally prevailed among those who wrote of the diseases of animals 
at the beginning of the present century. Whatever value it 
may possess lies in the amount of salt it contains ; otherwise it 
is but little calculated to do any good. 
No treatment of rot can be considered as being more than 
