Observations upoii the Foot-rot in Sheep*. 231 



they are not infected with the scab or any other contagious 

 disorder. 



The precaution is not less proper in the case of the foot- 

 rot ; for although there may be no crippled animal in a 

 flock newly come to hand, yet there may be one among 

 them which had been imperfectly cured during the journey, 

 and in which the disease may break out anew. If there are 

 any actually lame at their arrival, they must be carefully ex- 

 amined. Sometimes it happens that they may chance to be 

 crippled from some other cause than that of foot-rot. On a 

 journey in a moist season the clay sometimes gets hard be- 

 tween the hoofs, and thereby lames the animal. A single 

 glance will suffice to see whether this is the cause of the 

 lameness. Sometimes thev are crippled in consequence of 

 the gland between the hoofs being swelled : this is cured 

 of itself, or at. the worst by cutting off the gland, and it is 

 not contagious. At other times the animal is crippled 

 merely from fatigue ; for which a little rest is the obvious 

 cure. But if the district from which the sheep come is 

 suspected, all diseases of the feet must be examined more. 

 cautiously than usual. A heat in the foot is a certain sign 

 of an abscess existing in the hoof, to which an outlet should 

 be given. The animal must then be carefully separated 

 from the rest, and the operation performed which I am 

 about to describe. 



If the ulceration is visible, the place must be cleaned with 

 a rag, and Goulard-water laid upon the sore by means of a 

 feather, or the powder of blue vitriol. In order to prevent 

 any dirt, Sec. from getting into the wound, the diseased fool 

 should be placed in a little boot, the sole of which is of lea- 

 ther or felt, and the upper part of cloth, in order to fasten 

 it round the leg of the sheep. This precaution is not only 

 favourable to the animal ; it also prevents contagion, which 

 seems to be communicated by the pus or sanies which flows 

 from the ulcers upon the litter of the sheep-fold. But when 

 the disease is situated between the division of the hoof, the 

 boot must be large enough to allow the foot to be moved in 

 its natural way ; for, if the two divisions were locked toge- 

 ther, the disease would fester instead of healing. 



i> 4 Wh< n 



