The Rot in Sheep. 
153 
to those of other countries, where we shall find abundant 
proofs of the. fact. Italian writers are very precise in their 
statt'inents respecting it, and so also arc those of France and 
Sj)ain. With such a mass of practical and scientific evidence, 
few persons, we imagine, would have die temerity to deny its 
truth. It may, however, be rightly asked by all, upon what 
cause the immunity depends? The answer to the question is 
both easy and satisfactory. Salt water is destructive to the 
cercaria^ of the fluke eggs. These infusorial creatures belong to 
fresh water, and to this alone. It is here only they can pass 
through their several gradations when out of the body to fit 
them for their ultimate development into flukes by entering the 
digestive organs of sheep. If flukes, however, should have taken 
up their abode in the biliary ducts prior to the placing of the 
sheep on salt marshes, they are beyond all reach of harm. The 
character of the food will have but little effect on the entozoa, 
and the disease will progress to a fatal termination. The cure 
spoken of by some authors is only apparent, not real. Sheep, 
viz., sound ones, " thrive remarkably well," writes Price, when 
thus located ; and we may add, so will many affected animals 
for a time,— the causes for which need not to be repeated. 
That the utility of this change of pasturage to diseased 
animals is not permanent, we have had many proofs in our 
own experience, but will cite one only in corroboration. A 
farmer living in Sussex sent in 1860 a number of rotten sheep to 
the salt marshes of that county, with a hope of their being cured 
thereby. For a few weeks the animals improved in condition, 
thus encouraging his hopes ; but very soon they began to waste, 
and ultimately all succumbed to the disease. Removal to salt 
marshes as a preventive measure is valuable, but as a curative 
one it is only fallacious. It is, however, a preventive within 
the reach of but very few persons, and even these may not use it 
aright. They may keep their sheep at home in early summer, 
until all the mischief has been done. 
The benefit of salt is so universally admitted that we might 
be content to leave the question without further comment ; We 
shall, however, offer a few additional remarks upon the prac- 
tical application of this prophylactic agent, but before doing this, 
we are desirous' of recording other supposed means of ancient 
date of securing sheep against the disease. 
Crawshey advises the making of a vialt liquor, and boiling in 
it certain herbs, such as shepherd's-purse, comfrey, sage, worm- 
wood, &c., and then to add salt in the proportion of IJ lb. to 
the gallon ; and " after Aprill come to give your sheepe seaven 
or eight spoonefuls a peece, every weeke, once if the weather be 
wet ; if it be dry, you neede not so often ; and thus continue till 
