AMONG SHEEP IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
559 
may vary from twenty to twenty-four hours. The disease did 
not appear to be preceded by any indisposition or other circum- 
stances that might give notice of its approach ; and where no 
means of relief were employed, it has been almost invariably 
fatal, in some instances destroying whole flocks. A similar 
disease has here and there been observed among horses from 
time to time, and as far as I have seen and can learn, has 
yielded to the treatment here adopted, with the addition of 
warm mashes and tepid drinks, which, no doubt, if practicable, 
might be used with much advantage in the treatment of sheep. 
The cause of this disease, like that of most epidemics, is 
obscure ; but I am inclined to attribute its existence, primarily, 
to the state of the atmosphere, and subsequently to the same 
cause, aided by contagion ; and on this principle I ventured 
to give it the name of Contagious Influenza, or Epidemic 
Catarrh among sheep. 
That the disease did not arise from the several causes to which 
it has been generally attributed, viz. the animals devouring 
earth impregnated with nitre, the innutritious state of the 
pasturages, or impure water, 1 have every reason to believe, 
inasmuch as the disease was found equally prevalent in the 
best as in other pasturage ; the young sheep, and those in the 
finest condition, were the greatest sufferers ; and some of the 
affected flocks not only enjoyed their accustomed and good 
pasturage, but drank from running streams of the best water, to 
which they had also been accustomed, and without being 
subjected to the possibility of being affected by the nitrous 
impregnations. 
I have mentioned as a precaution for obviating the spread of 
the disease, the separation of infected from sound sheep. This, 
however, must be done with due care, and without fatiguing or 
distressing the animals by long or harassing journies , or other- 
wise. 
The epithet “contagious,” applied by me to this disease, is 
supported by numerous well-authenticated facts, which, if they 
do not amount to demonstration, are, at least, I am of opinion, 
sufficient to justify its use on the present occasion. 
If contagious, it may be a question whether the herbage, 
in those spots where the diseased sheep have been, becomes 
infected ; and if so, how long it remains in such state, and 
whether, where practicable, the burning of such herbage would 
not be the most available and certain means of destroying the 
infection. 
