FOOT-EOl IN SHEEP. 395l 



FOOT-EOT IN SHEEP. 



There are few diseases upon the nature and causes of which 

 so much difference of opinion exists as upon this troublesome 

 and vexatious source of loss. 



Continental, as well as some English and American veterinary- 

 writers and observers, divide foot-rot into two varieties, namely, 

 contagious and non-contagious. 



The first or contagious form is called by a variety of names, 

 as Paroncliyia ungularis avium maligna or contagiosa (Latin) ; 

 Pictin, Pidin contagieux, Mai de pied, &c. (French) ; Bosartige 

 Klaucscuclie der Schafe, &c. (German) ; and the latter, Paronchyia 

 inter-digitalis, or gravelling. 



" Orf." — Carhunde of the Coronet in Sheep. — This disease is one 

 occurring more particularly in young sheep, but occasionally 

 affects old ones. It occurs in wet seasons, more particularly in 

 spring and autumn, and seems to be prevalent in pastures which 

 have rough and damp grass : it also occurs amongst sheep fed 

 on turnips, if the land happens to be damp and slushy. It is 

 characterised by lameness, then swelling of the coronet or 

 interdigital space; the swelling points and bursts, leaving an 

 angry-looking ulcer, which speedily becomes filled with granu- 

 lations, that readily bleed. The swelling extends up the limb, and 

 the ulcer may attain a large size. Similar sores may appear on 

 the face and head, and are probably due to contact. It is not a 

 fatal disease, but is very troublesome, as when well established is 

 slow to heal. The principal treatment is to remove to dry short 

 pasturages, and treat the sores with astringents and antiseptics. 



In his lectures Professor Dick said as follows : — " Foot-rot is 

 the name given to a disease in sheep similar to * Foul in the 

 foot' of horned cattle. Its consequences are disastrous and 

 ruinous, attacking, if neglected, the whole flock, so that in feed- 

 ing they actually crawl on their knees ; hence it is regarded in 

 the last degree contagious. After a good deal of investigation, 

 however, I have arrived at a different conclusion; and I discover in 

 its history notliing more than the result of that domestic state to 

 which the sheep has been subjected. By nature not unlike the 

 goat, it frequents the summits of the lofty mountains, where its 

 hoofs, altogether analogous to those of the horse, are exposed to 

 much tear and wear. Wlien from these alpine regions we 

 transfer the sheep into our grassy lawns, our moorish lands, or 



