The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-08-19 00:00:00

*('A iltSbtig.

ALLINGTON.— MALIGNANT Disease AMONG
SHEIP.—It is impossible by words to describe fully the
excitement which for a considerable time prevailed in
Wiltshire and the upper parts of Hampshire, in the
agricultural classes, in consequence of the breaking out
of a malignant disease in one of the largest breeding
flocks in the West of England,—in a flock, toe, that
has, for the last 50 jean, been regarded as one of the
most healthy flocks upon the Beckingliam Downs. For
a few days there was some secrecy in the matter; but
tio• completely impregnated is the whole flock that for
the sake of flookmasters generally it is desirable that
notice of the attack, and the means which are being
taken to subdue it, should be forthwith promulgated.
The facts in brief are these :—lt is now rather more
than a mouth ago that Mr. Joseph Parry, of Allington,
was riding alougaide one of his folds containing about
300 two-year-old ewes, when he obeerved one of the
ewes lying by the hurdles. The animal looked in •
pitiable condition, soon breathed its last and was put
out of the way, and for the time nothing more wee
thought of the ocourrence. But, in • day or two after.
other sheep in the same flock showed symptoms of
illness, exhibiting great internal suffering, loss of
appetite, heaviness and indisposition to move, and
general prostration. The two-year-old ewes had, up to
this time, been kept with their lambs, but, thinking it
better to separate them, the latter were now removed
and put with other lambs upon the farm, the former
being turned among the general breeding flock, making
altogether 1,000 ewes and 700 lambs. The nature of the
attack upon the two-year-old ewes surpassed all oompre-
liension, That it was eminently contagious was certain.
In the course of a fortnight the mune symptoms began
to show themselves among the older ewes and among
the lambs, and for days in succession as many as 20 or
30 of the ewes died in the most loathsome state of
disease, their bodies covered with pustules and a viscous
matter running from the now and from the eyes,
rendering the sheep completely blind, and emitting the
roost fowl stench that can be conceived. All local
remedies were unavailing. The malady was a mystery,
aid it • became necessary that the beat possible advice
should be had, and that too, without delay. Mr.
Joseph Perry went to London to oonantt Professor
Simends, the well-known lecturer at the Royal
Veterinary College. After bearing Mr. Parry's explana-
tion of the symptoms, Professor Simonds came IMMO-
diftiely to the conoluodon that the dhow) from which
the sheep were suffering was smallpox; but as smallpox
has never been known to make it. appearance except
through infection—u, wherever it hive appeared, its
origin and propagation have always been traceable—its
Introduction into Mr. Parry's flock was perfectly unac-
countable. Every nutrition which the Professor could
offer was at once mot by Mr. Parry. There had been
no change on the remade side of the flock for at least
half a century. New male blood was only introduced
once in two years; and it was now two years since Mr.
Parry had purchased or hired raina from artogber flock.