ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OP ENGLAND, 49 
would not have been materially interfered with, nor the health of the 
animal much affected. 
“ It is greatly to be feared that serious losses of sheep from * Hot * will 
take place during the present winter, the past summer having proved so 
wet that hundreds of acres of pasture land, which practically may be 
regarded as free from the punultimate forms of the flukes, have been by 
the excessive rainfall rendered sources of mischief by the diffusion of 
these embryos. Cake, corn, and the daily use of salt mixed with the 
manger food of sheep, will be beneficial in enabling them to bear up 
against the progress of the disease; but ‘rot, 5 once established, must 
be regarded as being altogether incurable. 
“iNov. 10th.—Mr. E. Budd, Leatherhead, asked for advice as to the 
best means to be adopted to save the lives of some in-lamb ewes, seventy- 
nine in number, being part of a lot of 100, which he had bought in 
July, and which were now affected with ‘rot.’ The account given by 
Mr. Budd showed pretty clearly that the disease had been contracted 
on his, Mr. Budd’s, farm by the sheep having been pastured on some 
low-lying meadows. He was advised to keep the ewes from turnips, 
grass, or other watery food; to give them a full allowance of oats and 
peas, with linseed cake and hay chaff, and to mix with their food daily 
some table salt, at the rate of 1^ oz. for every twelve sheep. 
“ He was also informed that as the time of parturition drew near, 
say in January, to discontinue the use of the salt; experience having 
shown that abortion is not unfrequently caused by this agent. 
“Nov. 20th.—A letter was received from Mr. Davies, of Bellington, 
Cheshire, stating that * blackleg’ had made its appearance among some 
calves, and that two out of a lot of twelve had already died. Full 
directions for arresting the further progress of the malady were at once 
forwarded, which essentially consisted of an entire alteration of the food 
and management of the animals, and the administration of saline 
aperients, to be followed by doses of hypo-sulphite of soda, nitrate of 
potash, and salt daily. The insertion of setons in the dewlap was also 
recommended. As no further communication has been received from 
Mr. Davies it may be inferred that no more cases have occurred. Should 
another animal be attacked, Mr. Davies was asked to give early informa¬ 
tion thereof, and if the case proved fatal, to send some of the blood and 
parts of the body to the College that experimental researches might be 
made into the true pathology of this fatal malady. 5 ’ 
The Committee had asked Professor Simonds to prepare a short paper 
on the Prevention and Treatment of the disease called Milk Fever, or 
Dropping after Calving. 
Only three candidates had been entered for the Society’s prizes for 
proficiency in cattle pathology. The Committee recommended that the 
Secretary communicate with the Council of the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons as to the possibility of holding simultaneous ex¬ 
aminations for the Society’s prizes in Edinburgh and London. 
Half-yearly Meeting. 
The following extracts from the report of the half-yearly meeting of 
the Society also relate to veterinary matters. Referring to the Metro¬ 
politan Show, the report states that “ the live stock department attained 
unprecedented dimensions ; and the Council rejoice to add that owing 
to the precautions taken, and to the vigilance of a most efficient staff of 
veterinary inspectors, no case of contagious or infectious disease ap¬ 
peared amongst any of the animals. Notwithstanding the very incle¬ 
ment weather, the proportion of animals affected with ordinary ailments, 
4 
LIIl. 
