34 REPORT ON FOOT-ROT IN SHEEP. 



main quite sound and healthy. Certainly a more favourable ex- 

 periment could not be devised for infection, with the exception of 

 innoculation with the knife. 



Treatment. — It will be observed from the facts already stated, 

 that foot-rot attacks in two different ways — the one being peculiar 

 to old sheep, when the disease breaks out below the crust, and 

 that lambs are more liable to be attacked between the hoofs ; 

 and as the treatment we have had recourse to is different, we will 

 relate our own experience and observation with old sheep when 

 the disease breaks out below the crust or horn. The great 

 essential before attempting a cure, is to have a small park to 

 keep the infected sheep separate from the rest of the flock, as it is 

 seldom a cure can be effected with the first dressing, and it is a 

 great annoyance to a flock of sheep to separate the diseased at 

 every application they require. The most dry and hard position 

 on the farm ought to be selected. 



Whenever the animal is observed to halt in the slightest 

 degree, it ought to be taken into the park, caught, and examined, 

 and all the loose crust that is separated from the hoof cut off, 

 care being taken not to draw blood. The foot, especially the 

 diseased part, ought to be well cleaned with a coarse cloth ; 

 afterwards, the diseased part ought to be anointed with the 

 butter of antimony, and as much put on as the sore absorbs. The 

 animal must be held on its rump for a few minutes till the 

 application takes effect, which- is easily known by the proud flesh 

 or ulcers assuming a colour something akin to roasted cheese. 

 After the liquid appears to have done its work and assumes a 

 dry appearance, the animal maybe let on to its feet and put into 

 the park. Two days ought to elapse before it is again interfered 

 with, when it should be again examined, even although it may 

 be apparently better, as there is some danger of the disease pro- 

 gressing below the crust, or of the proud flesh not being suffi- 

 ciently burnt down. If the crust still appears to separate from 

 the hoof, the knife must again be applied, followed by the butter 

 of antimony, and the animal returned to the park, and examined 

 again on the second or third day, and the same treatment 

 had recourse to till a cure is effected, when it may rejoin the rest 

 of the flock. The generality of cases, if caught in the first stage, 

 will yield to the second dressing ; but if the disease is allowed to 

 run its course for some time, it may require four or five applica- 

 tions before a cure can be effected. The disease, however, will 

 ultimately yield if treatment is persisted in, except in the case 

 of rams in close time. The grand secret of success in treating 

 foot-rot, as in many other diseases, lies in combating it in the 

 first stage. It is highly reprehensible, besides cruel, to allow the 

 poor animal to go limping about, or sometimes crawling on its 

 knees, for days and even weeks, till the foot is a total mass of 



