220 DISEASES OF SHEEP. 



the man who, deluded by some of the mischievous theories of the day, 

 believes that he may keep a glandered horse in his stable with im- 

 punity. 



The treatment of foot-rot is simple enough, and, in the early stage 

 of the complaint, usually successful. The foot must be carefully 

 examined, and every portion of horn that has separated from the parts 

 beneath thoroughly removed, and the sore lightly touched with the 

 butyr (chloride) of antimony, applied by means of a small quantity 

 of tow rolled round a flat bit of stick, and then dipped into the caustic. 

 A stronger, and oftentimes a better, application is made by dissolving 

 corrosive sublimate in spirits of wine. Hydrochloric acid is also a 

 very useful caustic for foot-rot. If a fungus is sprouting at the place 

 where the horn separates from the foot, it must be first cut away with 

 the knife, and then the root of it touched also with the caustic ; or, 

 what is still better, it may be removed by means of a hot iron. It is 

 necessary, indeed, to be rather sparing with the use of the knife 

 throughout the disease. There will seldom, except in very bad cases, 

 be necessity for binding the foot up ; indeed, the animal will generally 

 do better without this. It will be seen by the altered colour of the 

 part whether the caustic has been applied with sufficient severity, 

 and the dry surface which will be formed over the sore will protect it 

 from all common injury better than any covering. 



To these must be added that reasonable and successful practice of 

 removing the sheep to higher ground. Sheep among whom the foot- 

 rot is beginning to appear are sometimes completely cured by being 

 driven to higher and dryer ground. Some farmers, and with a great 

 deal of advantage, have their flocks driven four or five times daily 

 along a hard road. They thus accomplish two purposes — they wear 

 away the irregularly formed horn, the unequal pressure of which has 

 irritated and inflamed the foot, and the remaining horn is hardened, 

 and enabled better to resist the influence of the moist or soft ground. 

 Where the ulceration is extensive, means must be adopted similar to 

 those recommended for the treatment oi foul in the foot in cattle; but 

 in most cases it will be more profitable to the farmer to destroy the 

 sheep that has had foot-rot, if it is in tolerable condition, rather than 

 rely on a cure that is uncertain, and during the progress of which the 

 animal very rapidly loses flesh and fat. 



If, however, he is determined to attempt a cure, let him wash the 

 foot well from all grit and dirt, and then cut off every loose and de- 

 tached piece of horn, and every excrescence and fungus, and cover 

 the wound with the following powder : — 



RECIPE (No. 12). 

 * Caustic Jlstringent Powder for Foot- Rot.— Take verdigris; bole arrnenian ; and 

 sugar of lead, equal parts. Rub them well together, until they arc reduced to a fine 

 powder. 



This should be sprinkled over the sore, and a little dry tow placed 

 upon it, and bound neatly and firmly down with tape. The animal 

 should afterwards stand in a dry fold-yard for four-and-twenty hours. 



