ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 2 77 
The adoption of a strictly restorative system of treatment, in¬ 
volving a liberal and well-regulated diet, together with the 
administration of ferruginous tonics and saline alteratives, has 
been singularly effective in arresting the progress of the malady 
It is well known that nothing tends so much to the embarrass¬ 
ment of the constitution, and the production of disease, as the 
injudicious changes and neglect which are usually permitted in 
the feeding of sheep ; and more especially breeding ewes, which 
of all others demand the most careful attention. By far the 
greater number of fatal diseases to which ewes and lambs are 
liable are of a preventible nature, and their origin is due either 
to the quantity or quality of food, or to a bad system of manage¬ 
ment. It too frequently happens that stock ewes are made the 
scavengers of the farm, and but little regard is paid to their 
pregnant condition. Turnips that have been eaten off by other 
sheep, without any additional or more substantial fare, are not 
unfrequently considered by some persons to be quite sufficient to 
sustain the system of breeding sheep through the trying period of 
pregnancy, and this altogether regardless of the fact that the 
maturing of the foetus is being consummated during the coldest 
and otherwise the most unsalubrious season of the year. Practical 
.experience has shown again and again, that in ordinary seasons 
the ewe flock may be sustained through the period of pregnancy 
on an exclusive grass or root diet; but while such experience 
serves to illustrate this fact, it by no means justifies an unquali¬ 
fied adoption of the system. Breed, condition of body, condition 
and quality of soil, temperature, and other considerations, should 
at all times be taken into account in dealing with the important 
questions of the food and health of animals. 
With special reference to the outbreak of this disease in a 
flock of ewes, the property of B. Moss, Esq., Arlingdon Hall, 
Essex, it may be stated that the particular flock in question 
originally consisted of 145 ewes of the mixed Down breed. They 
were divided into two lots of 14 and 131 respectively. The 
former were old ewes, and the latter a mixed lot of various ages. 
During the winter the larger number were placed on upland 
pasture, while the smaller had given to them, in addition to grass, 
a small quantity or dry food. 
The disease first appeared on the 1st Eebruary in the smaller 
lot, out of which two had died at the time of my visit. On the 
12th two of the larger lot developed the disease, and others, to 
the number of eight, were subsequently attacked, and destroyed 
in consequence. 
The adoption of the principles of treatment contained in the 
preceding part of this report was speedily attended with benefit; 
and I am informed that no fresh cases have occurred, and that 
the sheep are now much improved in their general health.” 
J. Wortley Axe, 
Professor of Morbid Anatomy at the Royal 
Veterinary College. 
