618 
REVIEWS. 
fession, as a whole, becomes advantaged and science ad¬ 
vanced. 
The former of these pamphlets is a reprint, by permission, 
from the Bath and West of England Agricultural Journal , 
and is illustrated by engravings of the liver-fluke (distoma 
hepaticum ) in its various stages of development; considered 
the principal cause of the disease called rot, coathe, or bane, 
which during the past year has been singularly prevalent. 
Mr. Brown, however, is of opinion that they are not the sole 
and exclusive cause. He says— 
In estimating the liver-fluke as the principal cause of the disease with which 
it is associated, the mind merely obeys its natural bias; any evidence to the 
contrary will, therefore, be met by an instinctive opposition. We ask, 
however, for a little forbearance while we advance the arguments on both 
sides. 
In favour of the conclusion that flukes are the cause of the morbid 
changes, we have the fact of their presence frequently in large numbers in 
the livers of sheep affected with rot. In opposition to the conclusion, we 
have— 
1st. The fact that they are found where no appearances of rot are seen 
during life, or after death. 
2nd. The variation in poinfbf number in similar cases of disease—sheep 
having died from rot with a dozen flukes in the liver, while in other cases 
hundreds are found. ' v " f 
3rd. Their presence is not*nek^ssary to the production of the changes 
observed. This position—of immense importance in the evidence—we had 
some years ago ample opportunity of verifying. A number of Southdown ewes 
were brought from a low and damp situation to the CollegeEarm on the Cots- 
wolds. Shortly after their arrival, the symptoms of rot presented themselves; 
some of the animals died in a month or two; some lingered on through the 
lambing season; some were treated at the hospital; but eventually the 
whole number died at various times. All were submitted to a post-mortem 
examination, and in no instance were flukes found, notwithstanding all the 
other signs of rot were well defined. We do not care to contend merely 
for the application of the term “ rot” to these cases; we quote them as 
proofs of tiie statement we have just made to the effect that the various 
morbid changes characteristic of the disease may occur unconnected with 
C£ flukes. 55 
4th. They are never found in large numbers excepting in the advanced 
stages of the disease. If in the commencement they existed in abundance, 
there would be a presumption in favour of their having some influence in 
the production of the subsequent changes. Indeed, a large number of these 
animals could not exist in the biliary canals without interfering with the 
functions of the organ; but as they have not been found to precede but 
rather to follow the disease, the presumption is in favour of their being to 
a great extent the result of the derangement rather than its cause. 
In fine, the weight of evidence seems to us so decidedly against the 
popular conviction, that we cannot consistently accept it. Allowing full 
force to the sole argument in favour of the belief, viz., admitting that flukes 
are invariably present in rot, it is not logical to conclude that therefore 
