36 REPORT ON FOOT-ROT IN SHEEP. 



all become lame. ISTo time ought to be lost, but the most ener- 

 getic measures taken, as it spreads with alarming rapidity. Every 

 lamb ought to be examined carefully, and wherever there is the 

 least appearance of matter, or even tenderness, a little of the 

 powder should be applied. A great deal of after trouble will 

 thus be saved, and the flock prevented from losing condition. 

 If the disease is allowed to run its course for some time, and pro- 

 gress below the crust around the heel, the knife must be em- 

 ployed, followed by the butter of antimony, as the powder is 

 slow in effecting a cure after the foot has become all ulcers and 

 proud flesh ; but if the disease is caught in the first stage, I have 

 never seen Cuff's powder fail to effect a cure. 



Preventive. — It will be seen from the facts already stated, 

 that foot-rot in sheep is a disease difficult to prevent upon cer- 

 tain soils ; the only preventive, or, at least, modification of the 

 disease that I have seen had recourse to, is thorough drainage. 

 The effect of this we have seen established on the farm of Hare- 

 hope, Peeblesshire, which is celebrated as one of the richest in the 

 county. For many years it was but partially drained, and the grass 

 grew unusually rank and soft throughout the summer, and a great 

 part of the sheep pasture was always saturated with moisture. 

 Consequently, in autumn the grasses were usually rotted down and 

 decayed, in a state highly favourable for the propagation of foot- 

 rot, which abounded. The farm changed tenants about twenty-two 

 years ago, and fell into the hands of Mr Tod, Cardrona Mains, 

 who got the stock at valuation at the term of Whitsunday. At 

 that period a great many of the sheep were seriously affected and 

 deteriorated in value from foot-rot, and as the summer advanced 

 and vegetation began to increase, the disease extended its ravages 

 in proportion, till nearly a third of the entire stock, which 

 amounted to above 800, was more or less affected, notwithstand- 

 ing the most strenuous exertions of the shepherd to subdue the 

 malady. Mr Tod commenced a thorough drainage in summer, 

 and some idea of the rankness and luxuriance of the grasses may 

 be gathered from the fact, that the workmen found the operation 

 utterly impracticable during the summer months, when vegeta- 

 tion was in full growth, and were compelled to stop. They 

 resumed work, and prosecuted it successfully, during the winter 

 and spring, before vegetation commenced. After the foot-rot 

 began to assume a more manageable state, and in the course of a 

 year the disease was totally under subjection. A few cases were 

 always occurring annually, and will occur on such soils under 

 the best precautions ; but the shepherd was able to keep the 

 disease from spreading to any extent. The drains were, how- 

 ever, always kept in thorough repair, which is one of the great 

 safeguards on soft grassy land; and if the soil is kept thoroughly 

 drained on hill pasture, and the shepherd has not got too heavy 



