220 On Tunis Sheep. 
are rare. Yet they are not inactive; but use sufficient 
exercise for health, without wandering and fickleness as 
to pastures. In these they are not overnice ; and will 
keep in good condition, upon coarser and less food, 
than any sheep I am acquainted with. 
5. Vheir general healthfulness enables them to re- 
tain their fleeces. A diseased Tunis sheep is rare ; 
even ina mixed flock, in which other sheep have been 
subject to every disease known in that animal. I have 
had them disordered in the feet, with the fouls, but not 
the foot rot. lf the hoofs of sheep are examined, there 
will be found a small opening, near and above the fore 
part of the cleft. It is the mouth ofa duct, running 
up the shank ; and calculated for the emission of a mu- 
cilaginous oil, which lubricates, supports and assists i 
the growth and renewal of the corneous parts of the 
hoof. Perhaps it is also a drain for humours, which, 
when confined, become morbid and peccant. If this 
closes, the disease appears.* Examine well, and rub 
briskly the parts together. Assist the opening of the 
duct, and the discharge of the morbid and stagnated 
matter, in every way. Poke juice, I have found efh- 
cacious. Few are acquainted with this part of the ani- 
mal structure, though, | believe, all cloven-footed ani- 
mals are thus formed. Swine have the duct, in the hin- 
* Worms are o'ten ound in this duct, and in the shanks of 
common sheep. None have ever been discovered im the 
shank, or in this duct, o: the Tunis sheep. Probably because 
the wooliness o; the part kept off the insect which generates 
these worms; ii so they orginate. The disease I call the 
fouls in the Tunis sheep, is occasioned by coagulated mat- 
ter, and not worms, in this duct. 
