620 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
warm chamber for thirteen hours, when it was found that the three 
which had been touched with cerebro-spinal fluid were cultivating 
vigorously, while the other three remained barren. 
The cultures consisted of little round organisms, which moved 
about rapidly either singly or in pairs, and were in some places 
aggregated so as to form a zooglsea, and across the field was stretched 
a fine branching mycelium. 
A second culture was made from one of the slides, and after a 
few hours it was seen to he growing rapidly, but unfortunately a 
sudden rise of temperature succeeded the cold weather, for which 
the baths had been regulated, and all the cultures were exposed for 
some hours to a temperature over 100° Fahr., which put a stop to 
all growth. 
The blood was cultivated in the same decoction, contained in test 
tubes plugged with cotton wadding, through which it had been 
previously boiled. The cultures grew slowly, but the appearances 
they presented were similar to those obtained with the cerebro- 
spinal fluid, though not so well marked. One of these which had 
been put aside for examination escaped the accident above referred 
to, and the cultures exhibited under the raicroscopes were derived 
from that source (fig. 2). 
The results we have obtained so far lend strong support to the 
view that louping-ill is a disease due to, or connected with, an 
organism whose locus is chiefly in the cerebro-spinal fluid, but 
which also seems to be found in the blood. Arrangements have 
been made by Professor Williams, Mr. Hamilton, and myself to 
pursue this and other lines of inquiry in the season which is now at 
hand. 
Braxy or “Sickness.” 
This is a disease which has been long known. It prevails over 
wide districts, and is very fatal. It usually runs a rapid course, and 
sheep attacked by it are generally found dead before they have been 
noticed to be ailing. The symptoms are very different from those 
of louping-ill. The patients display symptoms of great suffering ; 
they are scarcely able to walk, but they stand with their head bent 
down and their feet drawn together beneath them. The abdomen 
becomes much swollen, and they lie down, and do not rise again. 
