115 



the side on which they fall. The top may be left open, or a 

 board may be so placed lengthwise in the centre of it as to pre- 

 vent the sheep from jumping into the manger. I give a rough 

 sketch of an end view of it, though the form is very common. 



5. Diseases of Sheep and Remedies. — The diseases to 

 which sheep are subject among us are not numerous, but some 

 of them are very troublesome. The rot, so much dreaded hi 

 England, and in which the liver of the sheep is destroyed by 

 worms, so far as my knowledge extends does not prevail among 

 our flocks. For this disease there seems to have been discov- 

 ered no certain remedy or preventive ; and indeed its origin 

 does not appear to be well ascertained. 



The foot-rot is not uncommon, and is said to have been 

 brought into the country by the Saxony sheep. The disorder 

 is of an ulcerous and offensive character, and first appears be- 

 tween the claws of the^ sheep, from whence it extends up the 

 leg and assumes an aggravated form. It is extremely infectious 

 in its character, and I have known the presence of two or three 

 affected sheep to spread the disease among a hundred in a few 

 days. I do not know its origin, but I believe that the seeds of 

 the disease may lie some time concealed without germinating. 

 I have known a large flock to be extensively and almost con- 

 temporaneously affected with it, after standing in wet yards and 

 after a course of high feeding. Various remedies have been 

 tried, but all of them are troublesome in their application and 



