Report on Liver-Rot. 
179 
poor elevated land about Birmingham, on the coal measures and 
magnosian limestone between the Midland metropolis and 
Nuneaton, and on the tenacious lias which occupies the south- 
eastern third of the county. Mr. John Bennett, Theddingworth, 
Rugby, before 1879 scarcely knew what flukes were ; his land is 
fairly drained, and he has 1000 home-bred sheep. Notwithstand- 
ing the judicious use of dry food, he lost in 1879 and the early 
part of 1880 upwards of 300 ewes and theaves ; they died in 
lamb and after lambing. Throughout the autumn and winter 
and until February 1881 the breeding flock created no appre- 
hension, and looked well ; but before the end of the month 
they were failing, slipping lambs, and many will again be lost. 
The flukes appear to have been picked up from second year's 
seeds and meadows on which, in these recent exceptional seasons, 
water stands even in summer for several days. 
Mr. Osborn Hills, M.R.C.V.S., has given the following detailed 
account of the prevalence of rot in the Leamington district in 
1879-80 :— 
"Few counties have suffered more than Warwickshire, although 
I am happy to say the worst is over, and, for the last month or so, 
it seems to be gradually subsiding, appearing to have had its 
fatal course without any check from artificial services from the 
hand of science. 
" The part of the county earliest attacked which came under 
my notice professionally was Leamington Hastings, whence the 
Rev. Mr. Sitwell forwarded aflfected livers to me for examination. 
I believe he lost a great many, in fact, I have heard from a 
good source, nearly all. Just round that district, Granborough, 
Napton, Stockton, and Southam suffered severely. Coming 
nearer the centre of the county I found on inquiry that Mr. 
Reading, of Snowfall, has lost over 300, and he has not a sheep 
left on the farm. 
" Hunningham was also affected. I lent Franklin a tup lamb 
to put to a few ewes. The tup was there about a fortnight. 
When he returned I put him back again with my own lambs, 
and in two months my man drew my attention to him, and I 
could then detect the early symptoms of the disease. I had him 
placed in the rickyard with another lamb, and endeavoured to 
get him meaty, supplying the best of food, with a little sulphate 
of iron and salt sprinkled over his provender, but all to no 
purpose ; he gradually got worse, and I sold him as a screw. 
He was my only loss out of my little flock of 50. 
" John Mursott, of Weston Hall, lost between 200 and 300 
two and three-year-old sheep, but not one of last year's lambs. All 
had, however, been treated the same and kept on the same pasture. 
The only explanation I could give of this was that the older 
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