AGRICULTURE.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 801, 30 June 1865, Page 4

AGRICULTURE.

THE FLUKE IN SHEEP.

The disease known as the "fluke" has attacked several large flocks of sheep in the western district of Victoria, and, according to report, is' travelling with rapid strides through the whole of the district. The Geelong Advertiser says :— "The dead animals, which in some instances have averaged ten per cent.^ in the flock, show nothing externally to indicate the scourge; but upon examining the liver, or rather as much as remained of it, swarms of animalcule, of the size of a sixpence, are found in that organ. The disease, no doubt, proceeds directly from impurity of the blood, so that a free useofthe nitrate of soda, or common salt, with their food, or depasturing the animals near salt bush, or where salt plains prevail, would have the effect of eradicating it, by giving a greater quantity of oxygen to the blood, and thereby preventing its tendency to putridity or corruption."