646 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 Nov., 1907. 



to be hot ana painful when pressed, and a moist, foul-smelling discharge 

 will be noticed between the claws, the thin horn on the inner sides being 

 swollen, i^ater on the soft tissues above and around the foot will become 

 swollen and inflamed, and a strong pulse may be felt in the region ; the 

 discharge between the claws increases and becomes purulent (mattery) ; 

 tne horn becomes crumbly and disintegrated, being eaten away, as it were, 

 by a kind of dry rot process, and the sore may spread until the whole of 

 the side and under-surface of the claws becomes involved in the ulceration. 

 J. he sensitive blood-vascular laminas which secrete the horn are by this 

 time exposed, and may produce fungus-like gro\\ths (proud flesh, really) 

 which bleed on the slightest touch, so forming along with the offensive 

 discharge a soft scab, which rubs off easilv. By this time the sheep has no 

 inclination to walk; it " scrafiles " along on its knees or belly according 



Fii,r. 112. Footroot in early stage, 

 showing disease commencing between 

 the claws. (After Armatage.) 



r'ig. 113. Advanced footrot, showing 

 growth of spongy horn. (After Arma- 

 tacre.) 



as the fore or hind feet are affected, and, partly from want of food and 

 partly from febrile pain, soon becomes a lean, pitiable object. In extreme 

 cases the claws mav be shed, but as a rule, with reasonable care and treat- 

 ment, the more serious of the conditions above described are not ex- 

 perienced. 



Treatment. — The object of treatment is primarily to render the parts 

 clean and sweet, and keep them so by destroying the septic germs which 

 are responsible for the spreading ulceration and irritating discharges, then 

 to allay irritation, and finally to promote a healthy horn growth. To 

 euect this it will be necessary that, whatever application is used, it should 

 be given a chance to get at the innermost and uttermost ramifications of the 

 ulceration where tne festering germs are, and consequently the rough-and- 

 ready method adopted on some stations of depending solely on foot-baths 

 is often ineffective. It may do in the early stages when the disease has 

 not under-run the horn, but if such has oxurred all loose and under-run 



