FOOT-ROT 555 



mortification and death. Sheep which are attacked 

 by this complaint should be immediately taken into 

 the house, and their legs well washed with soda and 

 water ; and after they are quite dry, let them be 

 properly anointed with citric or nitric ointment. 

 When the swelling suppurates, it should be dressed 

 with tar-ointment, and a rag rolled round it, and the 

 anointing to be repeated every second day. 



FOOT-ROT. 



SYMPTOMS. The earliest symptom of foot-rot is 

 lameness, after which a feticl discharge issues from 

 between the claws, and soon afterwards proud-flesh 

 makes its appearance ; and this is followed by a 

 gangrenous or cancerous aspect of the fleshy portions 

 of the foot. 



CAUSES. Wet, cold pasturage, is one of the chief 

 causes of this complaint ; and if the sheep are re- 

 moved to a distance when the horn is still soft, the 

 effects of travelling on a hard road is almost certain 

 to cause the rot. It is sometimes produced in a 

 sheep-house, where a number of suckling ewes are 

 kept, from the heating nature of the dung, if not 

 frequently cleaned out. Sheep which are afflicted 

 with this disease frequently feed as well as when in 

 good health ; but notwithstanding this, they seldom 

 thrive, and often rapidly lose flesh, and more especi- 

 ally their fat, which no doubt is caused by the 

 copiousness of the discharge. 



REMEDIES. As soon as sheep are observed to go 

 lame, the feet should be inspected, and if affected 

 with this disease, the horn should be pared away, 

 so as to permit the matter to escape. Caustic 

 remedies are found the most effectual in foot-rot. 



