The Rot in Sheep. 
149 
«lcap;iiious iiKiterial wliicli liad a very uni)leasanl. snioll, not unlike fetid 
animal oil, whicli had probably to do witli its sickenin;T eltects. 
" On the 20th June, being two months from its first exliibition, the medi- 
cine was discontinued to the College sheep. All the animals were kept, how- 
ever, about six weeks longer, by which time they had become so emaciated 
that it was determined to destroy them, whicli was accordingly done. A. post- 
mortem examination was made of each, and it was found that no real 
dittbrences existed in the lesions wrouglit by the disease in the sheep which 
had taken the medicine froni those of the others which had not. Living flukes 
existed in largo numbers in the livers of all tlie animals. 
" To return to the shee[) at Oakington. It has been already stated that in 
this moiety of the animals, for the first fortnight subsequently to April 22, no 
material alteration had taken jilacc. By the end of May, however, it was 
very evident that three of the sheep were gaining flesh, and presenting a far 
more healthy appearance than the others. Two of these were sheep not taking 
medicine, and one which was. The other three sheep were wasting, and 
becoming day by day more debilitated ; but nevertheless, when compared with 
those at the College, they were in far better condition. 
" On June 6th, forty-five days after the commencement of the experiment, 
one of the Oakington sheep died, and this, as at the College, was one which 
had taken the medicine. The lesions met with on examination of the body 
agreed with those already described, and need not, therefore, to be repeated. 
The medicine was continued up to the 20th of this nionth with one of the 
remaining sheep, and for a fortnight longer with the other — the latter being 
an emaciated and gradually declining animal. 
"The three sheep spoken of as doing well were by this time so much im- 
proved that I had little apprehension of their speedy death. The weather 
was dry and the herbage of the pasture good — circumstances most favourable 
for their resisting the progress of the malady. All five were kept throughout 
July, and until the 4th of August, when I determined, as it was evident two 
would ultimately sink, to kill three of the lot, viz., the two in question together 
with one of those which had greatly Improved in condition, and which had taken 
no medicine througho\it. My chief reason in taking the resolve with reference 
to the latter named animal, was to ascertain on what its improved state 
depended, or whether in fact it was the subject of the entozoic disease — rot. 
On making post-mortem examination of this animal it was found that only 
a few flukes were present in its liver, and that the structure of the gland was 
but little changed— facts which fully accounted for its well-doing. 
" With reference to the two remaining sheep, one of which had taken the 
medicine and the other not, I feel assured that their improvement is due 
entirely to the circumstance that few flukes are present in their livers. 
" I have further to report respecting these sheep, that being ewes, I placed 
them with my breeding flock at the time of putting the rams to the animals, 
and intend to keep them throughout the winter to mark the result, giving 
them no more attention as to feeding and management than the flock in 
general will receive. 
" On reviewing all the details of this experiment I fear we must conclude, 
that this supposed cure of rot in sheep has proved quite inefi'ective for good in 
our experience. 
(Signed) "Jas. B. Simonds." 
Subsequently to this report being made to the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society one of the two remaining sheep began to give 
evidences of declining health, particularly by a gradual falling 
TiviTiy in condition. This was first observed about mid-winter ; 
but the animal nevertheless lived on and produced a lamb — a 
