232 Observations upon the Foot -rot in Sheep. 



When the disease is seated within the horn of the hoof, 

 it is attended with great pain without any visible disease; 

 the animal does not rest upon the diseased leg, yet it has all 

 the appearance of being well. Upon putting the hand upon 

 the hoof it is found to be very hot; which is easily ascer- 

 tained by comparing it with the sound legs. We must then 

 endeavour to discover on what side the abscess or interior 

 ulcer is : in order to do this, the foot of the animal must 

 be slightly pressed with the thumb all round the junction of 

 the horn with the skin, as well as the sole of the foot. The 

 seat of the abscess may be easily ascertained by the wincing 

 motion of the foot. This is the place which must be cut 

 with a keen-edged knife, so as to occasion the discharge of 

 the matter and lay the flesh bare. When the wound has 

 bled for some time, a feather, wet with the water of Gou- 

 lard, is laid upon it, and the boot above described is 

 put on. 



It sometimes happens, that upon pressing the foot with 

 the finger no place can be fixed upon as being the seat of the 

 disease : this is the case when the abscess is seated below 

 the thickest and hardest place of the hoof. In this case it is 

 necessary to make large incisions, sometimes without any 

 benefit, before finding the disease ; and after waiting a day 

 or two the matter of the ulcer begins to appear, and eats 

 through the horn, in descending to the sole, which then be- 

 comes painful at the place where it is necessary to make the 

 incision. 



In general we need not be afraid of cutting into the 

 quick and bleeding the diseased feet. The horn of the hoof 

 grows again with singular expedition. I have often seen 

 feet which were completely unhoofed ; others, of which part 

 only of the horn was taken away, which healed much sooner 

 than such feet as were scarcely ulcerated. 



It would seem that in this disease, the juices which admi- 

 nister to the reproduction of the horn or hoof exist in 

 greater abundance in the above places in disease than in 

 health. When the disease is neglected, and where the sole 

 of the foot has been gnawed off and the whole foot ulcerated, 

 I often found thr.t the sides of the horn had sent out cros9 



slips 



