618 Proceedings of the Poycd Society 
apparently well, have, when startled, fallen suddenly down, and 
died almost immediately; and it is asserted that the number of 
deaths from louping-ill may be greatly increased by rough herding. 
It is probable that death caused in this way may be due to shock, 
and have nothing to do with louping-ill, for sheep are very nervous 
animals, and easily frightened. No cases of that kind have come 
under our notice. More commonly the disease comes on gradually, 
and the first symptoms noticed are uncertainty of gait and lameness, 
also loss of appetite, and consequent falling off in condition. If the 
case is a serious one, the next thing noticed is the inability of the 
sheep to rise. It struggles to do so, but has lost power in its fore 
or hind limbs, and lies sprawling. The head is usually thrown back, 
and the animal grows gradually weaker. It is seen to tremble 
occasionally, and its lips frequently quiver, its teeth chatter, and 
there is a frothy discharge from the mouth. These symptoms may 
continue for a week, or even a fortnight, and recovery is not impos- 
sible at almost any stage, but the proportion which recovers is very 
small. 
The following is Mr. Hamilton’s diagnosis of a characteristic case 
of louping-ill, which occurred at Drynoch, in Skye. It was the 
case of a lamb, which had been ill for five days. It had had joint- 
ill in the spring, the joint had been opened under antiseptics, and 
the recovery was satisfactory : — 
“ Found lying on right side, eyes open, no squint, pupils of 
medium size, struggles spasmodically when approached. 
If hind leg is lifted, and allowed to fall, there is no 
attempt at motion. If fore leg is treated in similar manner, 
it is moved to and fro before reaching the ground. When 
held up by wool of back, it moves freely, and can stand on 
the fore legs, but the hind feet are fixed in the ground, and 
there are many clonic spasms in the hind legs, which re- 
main extended. When lying on its side, if one of the hind 
legs are pricked, there is a slight reflex movement, and the 
animal seems to feel it slightly. When the fore legs are 
pricked, they are immediately drawn up and retracted. 
When pricked on the trunk at various places, there seems 
to be least sensibility to pain in the hind quarters. It 
can move its tail. It occasionally grinds its teeth, and 
