REVIEWS. 619 
they are causes rather than effects—the mere fact of their existence being 
equally in favour of either presumption. 
In support of the opinion that flukes are not the essential cause of rot, 
the arguments may be concisely stated : 
1st, Flukes do not occur in large numbers until the disease has made 
some progress. 
2nd. The number is not invariably proportioned to the extent of the 
morbid changes. 
3rd. Exactly similar, even identical, symptoms during life, and post-mor¬ 
tem appearances, have been found to exist unassociated with the presence of 
these parasites. 
Flukes are found in the liver not only of the sheep, but also in other 
animals, without the concurrence of any symptoms of rot. 
From the whole evidence we draw the following conclusions : 
]. The fluke (Distoma liepaticuni ), while yet in one of its transition forms, 
is introduced into the organism of the higher animals. 
2. In a healthy condition of the system only a few of the larvae reach 
their full development. 
3. When the animal infested is placed under circumstances which occasion 
derangement of the secretive functions, particularly of the liver, the “ distoma 
brood” is favorably situated for attaining its final and mature state, and, by 
excessive accumulation, assists in the production of the organic changes 
associated with the advanced stages of rot. 
He then considers the “ causes acting from without/' as 
want of drainage, and a luxuriant state of herbage, “ such 
food being evidently unfit for alimentation, with its excess 
of fluid and deficiency of flesh- and fat-forming principles, 
not to speak of the highty stimulating ammoniacal com¬ 
pounds that are among its constituents. 5 ’ To this succeeds 
a consideration of the treatment and the prevention of rot. 
The matter of the second pamphlet, ‘ On Therapeutics/ 
having appeared in the pages of this Journal, we are pre¬ 
cluded from saying more respecting it than that we strongly 
commend it to the notice both of the practitioner and stu¬ 
dent of veterinary medicine, being assured that it is alone 
by the right application of principles in the use of remedies 
that disease can be removed, and we, as a body, become 
duly appreciated by the public. Gladly did we give insertion 
to the series of papers, the subject being one that had 
been too long neglected, and even now is not recognised as 
it deserves to be. 
We should be pleased if another medicinal subject were 
taken up in like manner by Mr. Brown, or that others 
would follow his example. The desirableness of the thing can¬ 
not be questioned, taking a professional view of it, and we 
know there are those among us who are quite equal to the task. 
