DISEASES OF SHEEP. 303 



the brain ; " braxy," or dysentery ; and others, — we know 

 at the present day ahnost nothing of. The only diseases we 

 have which are epizootic are the "foot-rot" and the "scab." 



The foot-rot is a disease which attacks the foot where the 

 hoofs unite with the bony structure, and in the cleft between 

 the hoofs. If not attended' to, it suppurates, and becomes so 

 painful, that the poor brutes hobble about on their knees ; 

 and finally the hoofs come off and the sheep are lost. But, 

 with any proper attention, this may be checked in its early 

 stage : if not, it will spread through the flock. It is sup- 

 posed to be caused by an undue amount of moisture under 

 foot, which softens the hoof, and causes an inflammation and 

 consequent decay of the tissue. The remedy is to pare off 

 the diseased portion, wash off the putrid matter, and apply a 

 mixture of tar, lard, oil of turpentine, and diluted sulphuric 

 acid : if a caustic is required (and sometimes a single appli- 

 cation early is sufficient), apply with a feather butter of 

 antimony, or sulphate of copper (blue vitriol), followed by 

 a mixture of tar and lard. After treatment, the diseased 

 sheep should be kept on a dry footing, and, if on a floor, a 

 little lime sprinkled on it acts as a preventive. Too much 

 care cannot be taken if this disease once gets in ; but it can 

 be cured by a repetition of this treatment. 



The scab, which is another contagious disease, is caused by 

 an infinitely small insect, called the " acarus," which burrows 

 in the skin, and causes intense itching. The animal rubbing 

 or scratching this produces a scab, which spreads the mis- 

 chief on the infected sheep, and is soon communicated to 

 the whole flock : the wool comes off in patches ; and the ani- 

 mal pines away. As soon as this is discovered, the diseased 

 sheep should be separated, and dipped in a strong decoction 

 of tobacco, to which, sometimes, an ounce of blue vitriol to a 

 pound of tobacco is added. A solution of arsenic is also 

 used in England : two or three dippings at intervals of two 

 or three weeks will effect a certain cure. 



Ticks are sometimes very troublesome and exhausting, 

 especially to lambs, upon which they will sometimes gather 

 in great numbers, if neglected. A sure and effectual remedy 

 is to dip the lambs in a strong decoction of tobacco : two 

 dippings will certainly finish them, and one is generally suf- 

 ficient. 



