152 
Report on Liver-Eof. 
Dorsetshire presents the same sad story as other southern 
and midland counties. Lord Portman certifies that many Vale 
farmers have lost all their sheep and many cattle ; that sheep 
on the hills are, however, fairly sound, but that even amongst 
them a few flukes may be discovered preventing their being 
warranted. 
Mr. George Timrcr, of Great Bowie}-, Tiverton, writing in 
May 1880, stated : "I am sorry to say that quite two-thirds of 
the sheep that were alive at Michaelmas last, through the Avhole 
of the Vale and larger part of Devonshire are now gone, many 
having died, and the remainder being sold at 10s. to 15s. a head, 
slaughtered, and sent for the most part to London. The 
butchers also tell me that a great number of the horned cattle 
have flukes in their livers, and in this neighbourhood many 
young ones have died completely rotten. The learned pro- 
fessors have told us a good deal about rot in sheep, and also 
black leg or quarter evil in cattle, but have failed to inform us 
how to cure or even prevent them. More sunshine and less 
rain will prevent the rot in sheep, and I can tell them how to 
prevent quarter evil in calves." 
Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart., M.P., responding to the inquiries 
of the Veterinary Committee, in May 1880, stated : " We have 
had great losses by sheep-fluke, or by what is generally called 
rot or caw in Devonshire and Cornwall. On my farm in Broad 
Clyst, five miles north of Exeter, I had to sell the whole of my 
200 breeding Devon long-wool ewes at a loss of about 500/. or 
600/. I fear several of my neighbours lost many of their sheep from 
a similar cause. Several farmers with whom I am connected, 
between Holsworthy and Bude, lost a number of sheep last year. 
I am unable to say whether the cause were flukes. I believe 
the Exmoor sheep on the hills have been, comparatively speak- 
ing, unaffected. I have heard rumours of injury to bullocks 
from the fluke, but I am not able to speak accurately." 
On the lighter lands, in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, the 
losses have not been so widespread and serious : but on the 
heavier wetter lands of North Devon great mortality has 
occurred. In the Holsworthy district 7000 sheep had died up 
to Midsummer 1880, entailing a loss estimated at 11,000/. 
' Around Oakhampton and Launceston similar disastrous results 
occurred. On the Cornwall vale-lands heavy losses are re- 
ported. In one small parish of Landrake seven occupiers, 
occupying only a moderate area, lost sheep to the value ol 
1000/., and fears are generally entertained that none of the 
heavier wetter lands are now safe for sheep. 
The Eastern Counties, with their lighter rainfall, have 
not generally suffered so seriously from the recent visitation 
