566 
FATAL DISEASE IX THE LIVER OF SHEEP. 
continued in the same field, and gained flesh rapidly until 
about the first week in July, when the owner fancied that they 
did not look so bright and lively in their wool, and did not 
improve so rapidly as they had previously done; but as the 
dry weather had set in, and the pastures were not quite so 
luxuriant as they had previously been, no further notice was 
taken of them until the latter part of July, when the first 
losses took place, and seldom a day passed afterwards with¬ 
out several sheep dying of what the shepherd called “ the 
yellows.” 
•r 
On the 29 th of July I had some conversation with Mr. 
Smith on the subject of his losses, when he asked me my 
opinion as to the cause and treatment of the malady; but 
added, they were that day giving the whole of the sheep two 
teaspoonfuls of turpentine and half a pint of solution of 
common salt and water, made strong enough to float an ego; 
(which I find requires about an ounce and a half of salt). 
I suggested that they should be entirely removed from the 
clover and put on grass-land, and instead of giving them oil¬ 
cake, they might have a few oats, and a little common salt 
mixed with the corn. In the way of medicine I stated I 
would prescribe something more likely to be of service than 
the mixture they were then giving them ; but as they had 
only just given the turpentine and salt, I proposed it should 
have a trial, and if it did not succeed, I would see them. 
This I did on August the 1st, as he continued to lose a 
great many daily. 
I bad an opportunity of seeing some that were affected, and 
the following were the most prominent symptoms:—A peculiar 
languid, listless appearance, frequently shaking the head as 
if flies were teazing them, ears drooping, sometimes boring the 
head against any little elevated ground, seldom separating 
from the rest of the flock more than two hours previous to 
their death, but moving lazily along with their heads down, 
and frequently grazing or rubbing the nose along the ground. 
As they got worse, they would generally move to the pond, 
ditch, or some shaded place, where they could easily be 
caught. The conjunctival membrane, and the mucous mem¬ 
brane of the nose were both of a yellow tinge, the inside of 
the thighs and arms of a dark brown colour, the ears of some 
were swollen, and when gently pinched between the thumb 
and finger, the skin easily sloughed off. As the disease 
advanced, they would grate their teeth, and stand with the 
head hung down to the fore feet, then fall down and die 
without a struggle; which took place in nearly every instance 
within two or three hours after they had been observed to be 
