1034 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



(which maintains a natural position on its legs), open the jaws, 

 pass the mouth of the vial down below the root of the tongue, 

 empty the dose, and hold the jaws open, working the throat 

 with the thumb and finger outside until it swallows. Free ac- 

 cess to water is required. 



Scald-foot, or Fouls, is a slight galling or maceration in 

 the cleft of the hoof, generally produced by wet grass or dung, 

 and unless long-continued it usually cures itself it works the 

 animal very little if any injury. But on account of the popular 

 ignorance and prejudice, which associate all lameness with the 

 dreaded foot-rot, and also on account of the maceration and fetor 

 which result from the scald affording an attractive asylum for 

 the parasite which is supposed to generate the true foot-rot, it 

 is best to medicate the scald. On some soils it will never termi- 

 nate in the rot; on others, there seems to be conclusive evidence 

 that it will. The simple scald is not infectious; it will remain 

 for weeks confined to a single member of the flock; it never 

 passes beyond the cleft, though, if neglected, maggots sometimes 

 get in and work grievous damage, if not total ruin, to the feet. 

 But the foot-rot spreads through the flock, speedily seizes upon 

 the heel as being the softest and most accessible portion, from 

 this invests the whole foot within the horny covering of the 

 hoof, and reduces all the fleshy part and the gristle to a mass 

 of putridity and rottenness. 



The thick, soft, club-like feet of the American Merino are 

 more subject to the greater as well as the minor malady than 

 those of any other breed. What will prevent the scald will 



assist largely in preventing the 

 foot-rot. The toe-shears ought to 

 be used at least twice a year. 

 The thick, semi-unqulate masses 

 TOE-SHEARS. on the inside of the hoofs ought 



to be kept pared away with a stout knife a hooked pruning- 

 knife is a good implement. If a little blood is drawn it will do 

 no harm; it is best to err on the side of thoroughness. Some 

 club-footed sheep demand the knife every month. Unless espe- 

 cially valuable otherwise, they ought to go to the shambles. 



