CHAPTER XXXVI. 



LAMENESS. DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



Some foot troubles and diseases affecting the lower portions 

 of the limbs have already been referred to in connection with 

 so-called quittor or necrobacillosis. Many diseases attributed to 

 wet seasons and other causes are now known to be due to specific 

 organisms. 



FOOT-EOT. 



The old controversy as to the infectiousness of foot-rot is prac- 

 tically dead, as it is now generally recognised that there are at 

 least two forms of the disease, one of which may be regarded as 

 accidental, and the other as infectious. The common or accidental 

 form has a variety of causes. It may affect quite young lambs 

 born upon moist pastures and with no hardening influences upon 

 the feet while exposed to the risks of pricks and injuries from 

 thorns and other foreign bodies. Any breach in the hoof is liable to 

 lead to decay of the horn structure, and this is foot-rot. Older 

 sheep get it from two quite opposite causes, namely overgrowth 

 on grass, and wear and tear by travelling. The crust or outer 

 wall of the hoof grows beyond the level of the sole on moist land 

 where no attrition is provided by road travelling from one feeding 

 ground to another, and this is followed by strain on the wall, 

 and more or less separation. Into the fissure thus made enters dirt 

 and water, and irritation is set up, the result being the production 

 of imperfect horn foot-rot in a word. Sheep that have been 

 taken off soft ground and driven long distances by road wear 

 away their feet so quickly as to expose the sensitive parts, dirt 

 enters, inflammation follows, and decaying degraded horn is pro- 

 duced in a word, foot-rot. 



Symptoms. Lameness, kneeling to feed and, if the hind feet 

 cause much pain, loss of flesh and condition. 



Treatment. Many good remedies are well known, and all sorts 

 are advertised, but their success depends upon the man who 

 applies them. The same remedies even will not be equally 

 successful when used for foot-rot arising from the two opposite 



