152 
The Rot in Sheep. 
of a position, and making an allowance also for the estimated 
differences in the sizes of the bushels at the different periods 
spoken of, we have the enormous quantity of 10'24 ozs. of salt 
allowed for each sheep ; or supposing Sir H. Spelman's statement 
of the content of bushel — wine — to be correct also with regard to 
corn and salt, then about half this amount : a quantity which we 
have shown could not be taken without serious risk to the safety 
of tlie animal. 
Leaving this question somewhat undetermined, we proceed to 
quote from other authorities on the prevention of rot. 
Gervase Markham, alluding to these means, says : — 
" This disease is the cruellest of all other amongst slicepe, and extendeth 
his violence ouer towneships and countvies ; and though it be held of most 
men incureahle, yet good gouerment, and this reccit I shall dcliuer yon, will 
not onely preuent, but pveserue yonr sheepe safe. Therefore as soone as you 
perceiue that any of your sheepe are tainted, you shall take Adraces, which 
is a certain salt gathered from tlie salt marshes in the heat of sommer, when 
the tide going away, and leaning certaine drops of salt water on the grasse, then 
the violent heat of the sunne turns it to salt : and to spcake briefely, all salt 
made by violence of the sunnes heat onely is taken for Adraces, of which 
there is an infinite store iu Bpaine. With this Adraces rubbe the mouthes 
of all your sheepe once a weeke, and you shall neuer need to fear the rotting 
of them, for it hath beene well tried; and as I imagine the experiment was 
found out from this ground. It is a rule, and well knownc at this day in 
Liixcolneshire and in Kent, that upon the salt marshes sheepe did neuer die 
of the rot ; no other reason being knowne therefore, but the licking up of that 
salt, and without doubt it is most infallible and most easie." 
The allusion made in the foregoing extract to the security 
given to sheep by placing them on salt marshes is the earliest we 
have yet met with, and as these remarks were penned in 1614 
we have a satisfactory proof of the antiquity of the opinion. 
Later on we find many authors making mention of the same fact 
with more or less precision, and some even stating that affected 
sheep are cured by being removed to such pasturage ; we shall, 
however, content ourselves with one other quotation on the 
subject. 
Price, in describing the management of Romney Marsh 
sheep, says : " I know many acres of pasture land in the marsh 
whicli the tide frequently overflows, and sheep are constantly 
fed upon afterwards. They are fond of feeding upon these wet 
salts ; but more so after a shower of rain. They thrive remark- 
ably well, and are never known to rot, though the ground is always 
saturated with moisture, and the grass has particles of earth 
adhering to it : two c auses which many think produce the rot. 
Sheep affected with this disease soon die, or recover if put upon 
this land." 
If more evidence be required to show the immunity pos- 
sessed by sheep thus located, we would turn from our own authors 
