an acute, usually fatal disease of sheep caused by general intoxication from Clostridium novyi, an anaerobic organism that multiplies in parts of the liver damaged by the common liver fluke.
Main Entry: black disease Function: noun : a fatal toxemia of sheep associated with simultaneous infection by liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) and an anaerobictoxin-producing clostridium (Clostridium novyi) and characterized by liver necrosis and subcutaneous hemorrhage —compare BLACKLEG, BRAXY, LIVER ROT, MALIGNANT EDEMA
