professor branford’s address. 
583 
that this state of the organs exists ? I look upon it that on these said to 
be worn-out farms, animals by hunger are obliged to eat what they can 
—if from overstocking the best grasses are eaten off—from lack of 
nutritious material in the food they get what they can, endeavouring to 
make up for the deficiency of nutriment by bulk, and on these farms com¬ 
pared with others whereon no reports of sickening animals are found, a 
larger amount of food is crammed into the stomachs. This food con¬ 
taining a greater amount of woody fibre and more indigestible material, 
also deficient in nutriment compared with quantity, has the effect of 
gradually and permanently distending the coats of the stomach, weaken¬ 
ing the digestive powers, and rendering the subject thereof more liable 
to contract disease. Now, these anatomical and physiological facts are 
such, as I have before remarked, any one of you can, by common obser¬ 
vation, make yourselves practically acquainted with. For myself, to be 
practical in my remarks, I would say it becomes us to bring art and 
science to bear upon this condition of affairs, and inquire what means 
can be adopted to remedy such. For immediate action, I would suggest 
that saline agents be not lost sight of, to stimulate good digestion, also to 
act as anthelmintics or worm-killers. Parasites as a rule find a more 
suitable habitat or happier home in such animals, and further I must 
mention parasitic diseases are most prevalent therein. Next to rely 
upon is the fact that as much change as is reasonably practicable in the 
character of the food where disease has suddenly shown itself, will be 
found the sheet-anchor of success in the treatment, but sheep should not 
be compelled to travel miles upon miles daily for their food supply. 
Camping or fencing and subdividing estates will ultimately prove of more 
worth, generally speaking, than anything else one can recommend; at 
least such is my opinion. For by such means greater security will be 
given not only for safety but for that healthy change of food required 
under many circumstances—facts well known to most flockmasters. 
Nor is it advisable to place them too suddenly on rich food-grounds, 
or allow them to partake of an unlimited supply. A check should be 
put on such, as the overloading the stomach with too great a quantity of 
rich and highly-nutritous foods will be found in many instances not only 
highly dangerous but often fatal. Artificial food, or wintering your 
sheep on stubbles or old corn-lands, or with a proportionate^ amount of 
root crops and cultivated food, is not at present to be anticipated; for 
that like the land manuring process so necessary, depends too much upon 
the labour question. The climate is said to be unfavorable to common 
turnips, as a rule; but mangolds thrive admirably in many places, and 
should be grown largely. The intense heat appears to do them no harm 
where irrigations can be carried on ; and from what has come under my 
own observation, I am hopeful for the future of this Colony, as an 
agricultural and pastoral country. I think the time will come when the 
labour question will be so satisfactorily arranged that sheep and cattle 
farmers will bestir themselves to farm more upon scientific principles 
than the present happy-go-lucky, take-your-chance, easy style of living, 
and not expect a panacea to be found in a single dose of medicine 
forced down the animal’s throat for a malady which a little judgment 
and only a tolerable amount of careful attention would have prevented. 
I am well aware there are serious losses borne by many industrious and 
careful farmers. Such, of course, require professional aid, and, where 
facilities exist for the farmer to consult his professional friend, their 
united action will generally, I trust, be attended with good results. 
Still, so great a burden must not be placed on medicinal agents or so- 
called specifics for diseases. Hygienic principles must be more carefully 
