30 REPORT ON FOOT-ROT IN SHEEP. 



REPORT ON FOOT-ROT IN SHEEP. 



By Hugh Borthwick, Shepherd, Middlestead, Selkirk. 



[Premium — Five Sovereigns.] 



Foot-rot is a disease prevailing to a greater or less extent over 

 most of the pastoral districts of Scotland. On hill pasture it is 

 always confined to what is termed soft or grassy land. On hard 

 heathery pasture it is never known to exist. On arable land it 

 appears on young grass, if very rich and luxuriant ; but upon 

 rich old pastures and lawns the disease prevails to a great ex- 

 tent. This fact is particularly exemplified in gentlemen's home 

 farms, where the parks have been long in pasture, partly owing 

 to the land being in better heart, as it is termed, and, generally 

 speaking, from being lighter stocked, and surrounded with trees 

 and plantations, so that the grasses rush up more luxuriantly, 

 and are of a soft, watery nature. We don't know of a more 

 fruitful nursery for the propagation of foot-rot than in some 

 gentlemen's approaches, thickly planted with trees. Foot-rot is 

 always confined to the foot, and although not fatal if properly 

 treated, still there is no disease to which sheep are subject so 

 difficult to eradicate, and so annoying to stock and the stock- 

 farmer, if allowed to establish itself throughout a flock. Emacia- 

 tion and poverty are the natural consequences, causing a great 

 loss to the owner. It is one of the most essential points in 

 stock-farming to keep the sheep in good condition ; but if foot- 

 rot is allowed to establish itself throughout a flock, this is im- 

 possible, let them be ever so liberally fed. 



Symptoms. — The first indication of the disease is a certain degree 

 of lameness in one or sometimes more of the feet ; generally the 

 fore feet are most liable to be affected. As the disease advances 

 the lameness increases, if the animals are not treated or removed 

 to other pasture. Ultimately they become totally unable to put 

 the affected feet to the ground, but crawl about on their knees, 

 pining away to skin and bone, and presenting a very distressing- 

 spectacle. It is not easy to say what part of the foot is most 

 liable to be first affected, but there is a difference between sheep 

 grazing on the hill pasture and on old arable pasture. On the 

 former the disease is generally confined to sheep two years old 

 and upwards, old ewes being most liable to it ; whereas upon 

 arable or old grass parks we have seen whole flocks seriously 

 affected and deteriorated in value. Upon hill pasture, if the 

 animal is caught in the first stage of the disease and examined, 

 by putting the finger between the hoof, the foot is found to be 

 unusually hot, and generally a little enlarged. The crust or horn 

 along the outside of the foot and near the toe is found either to 

 lap over the sole, or part of it is broken away and separated from 

 the hoof, in which particles of earth or filth are accumulated ; 



