FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
157 
Severn. On these lands it is stated that there are few sheep 
which have entirely escaped the disease. Within the last 
week or two the disease has shown itself to the worst extent, 
and it now assumes a very serious aspect. To large flock- 
masters it is a matter of the greatest import, and the losses 
they have experienced are very heavy, as a great number of 
their sheep have been destroyed by the disease. Even when 
the disease does not prove fatal, the loss is great, as the 
animals suffering from the complaint are very much re¬ 
duced. We have heard that at the country markets, which 
have been held during the last month, the supply of sheep 
has been very small, not near equal to the demand, and that 
those brought have not been of such a description as are 
usually offered. Indeed, butchers and dealers have to 
exercise great judgment in making their purchases, as, not¬ 
withstanding a flock of sheep may, to all appearance, look 
healthy, they are oftentimes infected by the disease. The 
malady has, during the last few years, been so prevalent, 
that it has proved a very great loss to flockmasters, which 
accounts for the scarcity of mutton and the high price at 
which it is selling. 
The continuous rains of the present season have also had 
an ill effect on the young cow stock generally. They have 
been more or less aflPected with rot, though in this case we 
have not heard of any serious loss. On the whole, the 
present season has been attended with many casualties to 
sheep and cattle, and consequently not in the farmers^ favour. 
—Bristol Mirror, 
Rot among Hares. —It appears that disease prevails 
to a great extent among hares in various districts of Perth¬ 
shire. Gamekeepers report that the malady resembles rot in 
sheep, and attribute the cause to the wet, cold, and variable 
weather which has prevailed for the last six months. On 
both high and low grounds the distemper prevails, and many 
hundreds of white and brown hares have been found dead. 
— Scotsman, 
Wholesale Poisoning of Dogs with Strychnia. 
—Many of the local papers contain accounts of the wilful 
poisoning of dogs with strychnia. Within a few days between 
thirty and forty dogs were thus destroyed at Preston. 
T he poison is placed on small pieces of meat, and put in 
the street. The dogs fall down suddenly, struggle for a few 
minutes, and then die. 
Three dogs are also reported to have died suddenly at the 
