Miscellaneous.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 105, 27 May 1880, Page 3 (Supplement)

Miscellaneous.

TREATMENT OF ROT IN SHEEP. In reply to the question of a correspondent, we extract the following directions from Professor Simons’ pamph’eton “Rot in Sheep,” just published by the Royal Agricultural Society ;

Stomachics or carminatives are likewise required, and of these we give a preference to aniseed in this affection. A good compound of these medicinal agents with some highly nitrogenised alimentary matters, we have in the following formula. Take of finely-ground oilcake (linseed), 1 bushel; finely-ground pea-meal, 1 bushel; finely-ground salt, 41b ; finely-ground arniseed, 41b ; finely-ground sulphate of iron, lib. Let the salt, aniseed, and sulphate of iron be mixed together first, and afterwards well incorporated with the cake and pea-meal. We have the authority of eminent chemists for saying that even when solutions of salt and sulphate of iron are mixed together in the proportions here recommended they undergo but little change. The products of the change are sulphate of soda and protochloride of iron, the therapeutic action of which, especially in the quantities in which they are formed, will not materially interfere with the unde-' composed common salt and sulphate of iron. Apart, however from the question of a partial chemical change in the agents, we can speak confidently of the practical utility of the compound in the treatment of rot. The quantity of it to be given to each

sheep daily should be half a pint, in addition to an ordinary allowance of corn or cake, and hay-chaff. It may be used with advantage for three or four weeks in succession, but should be discontinued occasionally for a day or two, especially if the animals became affected with diarrhoea. In the further treatment of rot, attention should be given to the expulsion—if possible—of the flukes from the biliary ducts —not that we think that any medicinal agents can be depended on for this purpose. Nevertheless, trial may be made of the oil of turpentine combined with linseed oil and. nitric of aether in the following proportions :—Oil of turpentine, 2 drachms ; nitric tether, 2 drachms ; linseed oil, 2oz. This may be administered once a day for three or four succeeding days, at intervals of about a fortnight; and, although not positively required, it may be as well if the medicated food compound bo suspended at these times. Beyond the adoption of these measures, we can see no advantage in the medical treatment of this disease.