MEDICAL TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 485 



" any separation between the diseased and healthy sheep of a flock 

 " into which the malady has been once introduced. The conse- 

 " quence necessarily is, that though a cure is effected of the sheep 

 " then diseased, it has infected or inoculated others, and these in 

 " turn scatter the contagion before they arc cured. There is not 

 '' a particle of doubt, nay, I know, by repeated observation, that 

 "a sheep once entirely cured may again contract the disease, and 

 " thus the malady perform a perpetual circuit in the flock. For- 

 "tunately, however, the susceptibility to contract the disease 

 "diminishes, according to my observation, with every succeeding 

 "attack; and fortunately also, as already stated, succeeding 

 "attacks, other things being equal, become less and less virulent." 



In order to reach the seat of the disease, it is necessary that 

 the horn of the hoof be entirely removed over those parts where 

 the difiiculty is located. This work is done by the aid of sharp, 

 thin knives and strong toe-nippers, which, with the manner of 

 using them, are described in Dr. Randall's work, and he con- 

 tinues: — 



" And on the effectual performance of this ^ all else depends. If the 

 "disease is in the first stage — /. ^., if there is merely an erosion 

 "and ulceration of the cuticle and flesh in the cleft above the 

 " walls of the hoof, no paring is necessary. But if ulceration has 

 "established itself between the hoof and the fleshy sole, the ul- 

 " cerated parts, be they more or less extensive, must be entirely de- 

 " nuded of their horny covering.^ cost what it may of time and care. It 

 " is better not to wound the sole so as to cause it to bleed freely, as 

 "the running blood will wash off the subsequent application ; but 

 " no fear of wounding the sole must prevent a full compliance 

 "with the rule above laid down. At worst, the blood can soon 

 "be stanched, however freely it flows, by a few touches of a 

 " caustic — say butter of antimony. 



" If the foot is in the third stage, — a mass of rottenness and 

 " filled with maggots, — the maggots should first be killed by spirits 

 "of turpentine, or a solution of corrosive sublimate, or other 

 " equally efiicient application. It can be most conveniently used 

 " from a bottle having a quill through the cork. By continuing 



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