228 Observations upon the Foot-rot in Sheep. 



became indispensably necessary to assist this flock by every 

 means in our power. We removed them to the distance of 

 six leagues; their removal was not effected without great 

 trouble, and was veiy tedious : we also had recourse to car- 

 riages for conveying the most discard among them ; but in 

 spite of all our care, many fell a victim to the disease, un- 

 able to bear tlje fatigue. 



The different individuals of the flock presented all the 

 varieties of the disease ; which mav be reduced to three prin- 

 cipal ones. The animals in the first stage of the disease 

 were only a little lame, appeared without fever, and pre- 

 served their appetite. Upon inspecting the foot, there was 

 only a slight redness discovered at the root of the hoofs, or 

 a slight oozing out of matter round the hoof ; sometimes 

 only a slight degree of heat in the lame foot, without any 

 apparent irritation. 



The sheep which had the malady in the second degree were 

 lame all fours, had a fever, appeared dull, fed slowly, and 

 were often on their knees if the fore-legs were attacked. 

 Upon inspecting the foot, there was an ulceration, as well 

 at the root of the division of the hoofs, as at the juncture 

 of the horn to the leg, accompanied by a whitish and fetid 

 sanies. 



Such animals as were in the third degree of the disease 

 had a continual fever ; they were meagre and sorrowful, rose 

 up with difficulty, and lost their wool. The ulceration of 

 the feet was venomous, and resembled a white gangrene. 

 Purulent collections were formed under the hoof, and made 

 their appearance at the junction of the horn and the skin. 

 Among some sheep the hoof was detached or entirely de- 

 stroyed, and the flesh of the two divisions of the foot was 

 one complete ulcer. In others the hoof had kept on ; because 

 the flowing of the purulent matter made its appearance at the 

 sole, and had gnawed and completely destroyed it. In this 

 case, the interior of the foot, upon turning it up to look 

 at it, offered onlv a putrid mass filled with worms, contained 

 in the horn of the hoof; the flesh and the ligaments ap- 

 peared completely destroyed, and the bones of the feet were 

 carious ; the smell was cadaverous and insupportable. 



We 



