Ohervations upon the Foot -rot in Sheep. 229 



We endeavoured at first to classify and separate the animals 

 according to the stage of the disease. The antiseptic lo- 

 tions, such as red wine, vinegar, extract of bark, and oak 

 bark, were employed ; as also fumigations of nitric acid, 

 to weaken the putrid tendency, and second the effect of the 

 remedies. 



I heard from Piedmont, that the vitriol of copper in 

 powder, as a drying caustic, was very useful at the com- 

 mencement of the disorder in checking its progress. We 

 employed it, as well as martial vitriol, without any remark- 

 able, success, upon such animals as were only slightly at- 

 tacked. It is probable that the contagious influence, which 

 we had not yet learnt to guard against sufficiently, had de- 

 stroyed the effect of this remedy. 



The acetite of lead or saturnine extract was employed with 

 more advantage. Antimonial beer was useful in drying the 

 wound, and the lapis infernalis in burning the bad flesh, 

 which was speedily reproduced after the incisions which ac- 

 companied the complete cleaning of the feet. 



The treatment of a numerous flock in this miserable si- 

 tuation is extremely perplexing. Four shepherds and seve- 

 ral assistants were employed in taking care of the 300 lame 

 sheep, and it was an extremely disagreeable business for all 

 of them. The animals were examined every day one by 

 one, and such of them as were unable to go to pasture were 

 fed in the sheep-cot, where the forage was carefully spread 

 out for them ; because the sick animals had neither strength 

 nor inclination to pull it out of the racks : it was necessary 

 to renew the litter often, and to perfume the 'Sheep-cot 

 several times a-day ; a precaution which prevented the 

 smell from becoming insupportable to those who dressed 

 the sores. 



This was not all. The lambs made their appearance be- 

 fore we had overcome the disease ; several of the poor 

 sheep miscarried, or produced lambs which were so weakly 

 that they could not live ; others of the lambs died for want 

 of milk, and those which survived took the disease j all 

 which increased our difficulties. 



The disease raged with all its violence for three months, 

 P 3 and 



