202 
Report on Liver-Hot. 
for in-lamb ewes, for it increases the tendency to abortion, which 
is very notable in all cases of rot. A drachm of sulphate of iron 
given daily with bran, oats, or bruised cake is also serviceable in 
combating the deterioration of blood which occurs in all serious 
cases. With the iron and dry food about half-an-ounce of com- 
mon salt may also be mixed, or rock salt, in boxes, placed 
within the animals' reach. Like many other good things, salt is, 
however, liable to abuse. Too freely mixed with the food it 
frequently increases thirst, adds to the congestion of the liver, 
and hastens death. Where there is thirst or diarrhoea it must be 
abandoned or used in very carefully regulated small doses. The 
tincture of Arjaricus muscarius, a poisonous fungus, is used as a 
fluke-specific in Poland and Russia. Mr. H. H. Coventry, 
Linford Cottage, Headly, Petersfield, writes that " when on the 
continent infection is about, sheep are given a teaspoonful of 
the remedy weekly as a preventive ; patients showing symptoms 
have a dose three days consecutively ; when the pale, watery eyes 
testify to an advanced stage the dose is repeated seven days con- 
secutively." So far as I am aware no experiments have been 
made in England with this fungus. In various parts of the 
country specifics are used. Success, when attending their use, 
generally depends upon their being wisely employed in con- 
junction with concentrated dry food. Veterinarians and flock- 
masters concur in the primary importance of nutritive dry food 
in maintaining vigorous health, reducing the liability to rot, 
and also checking its progress. Dry lodgings greatly aid the 
success of remedial and dietetic treatment. Cattle affected with 
flukes are more hopeful patients than sheep, and fairly well 
managed furnish a much larger percentage of recoveries. 
Credit has sometimes been unjustifiably given to various 
medicines on account of the discharges of flukes and of eggs 
which follow their administration. The mature flukes after six 
to nine months' residence in the liver are usually got rid of. 
They have fulfilled their mission and produced their myriads 
of eggs. Like bots in the horse's stomach, they are naturally 
discharged. The fresh spring grass purges them out freely, but 
they are also removed at other periods of the year. If the liver 
has not been seriously disorganised, the patient again improves. 
Many livers may be seen in the slaughter-houses consolidated, 
with the ducts hard and cartilaginous, and affording indubitable 
evidence of the mischief done by the departed flukes. Such 
sheep again picking up a fresh generation of the parasite stand 
a poor chance. 
Although the remedial treatment of liver-rot in sheep is 
uncertain and unsatisfactory, judicious preventive measures 
produce more hopeful results. Foremost amongst preventives 
