SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT 193 



of the foot and there is found there a watery, evil- 

 smelling exudation it is genuine foot-rot and should 

 have immediate and thorough treatment, with pre- 

 ventive measures to preclude its spreading to the 

 rest of the flock. 



First, it is necessary to pare away all the horn 

 that hides the diseased surface. The disease being 

 one of germ origin, there is no hope of cure except 

 through the complete destruction of the germs, and 

 they must therefore be uncovered from their hiding. 

 A sharp knife in the hands of a careful and thor- 

 ough man is a kind thing to the affected sheep, even 

 though it may cause some temporary pain. No 

 germicide can penetrate the horn. 



When once the diseased surface is laid bare it is 

 only necessary to wet it well with a strong solution 

 of blue vitriol (sulphate of copper), or butter of 

 antimony, to bind it up if much horn has been cut 

 away and keep the sheep on dry footing for a time. 



It is necessary, however, to prevent the spread 

 of the disease through the flock. To do this all feet 

 should be carefully trimmed and any sore ones 

 given individual treatment. Then a trough 6" wide 

 in the bottom, 12" wide at the top, 12" deep and 

 about 10' long should be made of three two-inch 

 planks. This must be enclosed with hurdles so that 

 the sheep may be compelled to pass through it. The 

 writer has fastened such a trough at the door of 

 the sheep barn so that in order to pass out the flock 

 must pass through the trough. Then it was only 

 necessary to confine the flock for a time and they 



