186 
Report on Liver-Rot. 
in 1879 ; sixteen in 1880 ; the yearlings <ind lambs hitherto have 
escaped. There are no boggy places, open ditches, or stagnant 
pools, such as occur on many adjacent farms where the flocks 
have been nearly destroyed by liver-rot. During recent rainy 
seasons, the coarse blue carnation-grass has increased, and is con- 
sidered injurious to sheep. Liver-rot is stated to be most gene- 
rally contracted in May or June ; its symptoms are apparent in 
October and November ; and the highest death-rate is in March 
and April. No increase of snails has been observed. Birds 
are as numerous as usual, excepting starlings, which in the 
winter months congregate much upon the pastures, and of course 
must find some food there. 
Mr. Ark Wright's keeper, in answer to questions furnished, 
reported that the deer-park contains 177 acres, lies high and dry, 
is bounded by a running brook, has no open ditches or stagnant 
pools. It is stocked by 160 deer, amongst which fifty cases of 
rot appeared in 1879, and twenty in the first half of 1880. No 
such disease was observed before 1879. From November to 
April the deer are fed with hay and beans, occasionally with 
acorns and chestnuts, and since the autumn of 1879 they have 
also, with benefit, had rock-salt placed in boxes about the park. 
The yearlings and fawns chiefly suffer. The fifty fawns of 
1878 died in the spring of 1879, and twenty of those of 1879 
also died when about twelve months old. They began to fail 
about November, as soon as the cold weather set in. The keeper 
reported finding many dead hares and rabbits with enlarged 
spotted livers, and distended stomachs and intestines, but con- 
taining no flukes. He concludes that it is desirable to leave a 
quantity of old grass over the winter ; without it the young 
spring shoot is apt to cause relaxed bowels and lowered con- 
dition. Deer attacked by liver-rot are said never to recover. 
The central portions of Herefordshire comprise many serious 
sufferers from liver-rot. Mr. James Smith, Leominster, lost 
one-third of his flock in 1879 and nearly all the remainder, 
with some fresh purchases, in the winter and spring of 1880. 
Thomas Green, Kinnersley, from liver-rot has lost all his sheep 
and many of his cattle, and in consequence has had to give 
up farming. 
Mr. Ricliard Farr, Much Dewchurch, farms 344 acres in 
equal proportions of tillage and pasture. More than half of 
the land was last year very wet and boggy, and grew carnation- 
grass. No losses occurred from fluke until 1879 ; since then, 
upwards of forty ewes have died ; twelve ewe lambs run, after 
weaning, on recently laid down seeds, also perished when 
about eleven months old ; the wether lambs receiving corn have 
all recovered ; two yearling cattle, wasting to shadows, died 
