532 
ROT IN SHEET. 
the cause, which is a continuous one, but with the effects, 
which are also continuous. I make this remark for the 
purpose of adding that I believe, if we were enabled at the 
present moment to take sheep in an advanced stage of this 
disease, as they would necessarily be at this period of the 
year, and give them any agent which would destroy or re¬ 
move from the biliary ducts (which I do not believe possible) 
every fluke contained in them, we should not succeed in 
saving their lives, because, as I have endeavoured to show, 
the presence of the flukes produces mischief in two ways; 
it leads to organic changes in the structure of the liver, and 
the breaking up of the entire organism of the animal. We 
cannot put a new liver into the animal, and the powers of 
life cannot be supported by us long enough to bring the system 
into a normal state. But, although I say this, it is equally true 
that we must look to the cause, for the purpose of getting rid 
of the effects. I repeat the remark, because it is important 
to remember that there is no multiplication of these creatures 
in the biliary ducts. If, therefore, we were to adopt treat¬ 
ment and effect their destruction early in the case, when there 
were but few of the entozoa, it would necessarily be attended 
with success. We are to measure the danger of the animal 
by the number of flukes existing in the biliary ducts, and 
by the length of time they have existed. It is proved by 
daily experience that we can resist to some considerable ex¬ 
tent the inroad of the disease, and we have, therefore, to look 
to the means which are at our disposal for the purpose of 
keeping the animal body together, if I may so express it, 
that the ultimate loss shall not be very great. Now, how is 
this to be done ? It is to be done, in the first place, wherever 
it is practicable (but it is not always so), by protecting sheep 
from the inclemency of the weather; and in the next place, 
by abstaining as much as possible from all succulent vege¬ 
table food—all food which has an excess of moisture. We 
should give the animals as much nitrogenous food as we 
possibly can, so as to lay the foundation for pure healthy 
blood, and at the same time throw tonics into the system, 
with a view of medicinally strengthening it. What should 
these consist of? It is rather difficult when a man has 500 
or 600 sheep to be giving them tonic agents in the form of 
draughts, and we are obliged to choose something which will 
of itself be unobjectionable to the animal. Sulphate of iron 
is an excellent tonic for purposes of this kind. Not only is 
it a good invigorator of the system, and an agent which sheep 
will take readily, but it is to be borne in mind, that it is in 
itself a very excellent anthelmintic, and may do much good 
