POOT-EOT.] 



SHEEP, 



[the scab. 



been heard of among our flocks until tbe month 

 of July, 1862, when it broke out at Allington, 

 near Devizes, It soon spread ; and neither the 

 shepherds nor the proprietors were satisfied as 

 to its real nature until the aid of Professor 

 Simonds had been sought; and at that time 

 many animals had been lost. The disease 

 quickly spread to neighbouring flocks, and 

 subsequently extended to Berkshire. At the 

 present moment there is good hope— thanks to 

 the preventive measures adopted — that the 

 malady has been stayed in the vicinity where 

 it had first showed itself. As the value of the 

 flocks of this country amounts to many millions 

 sterling, the loss by death, from small-pox, 

 ranges from one-fifth to one-half, or even more, 

 of an infected flock ; but this is only one part 

 of the loss which the farmer has to suffer. He 

 has to bear the effects of the disease on the 

 breeding and rearing of lambs, the fattening 

 of stock, &c. In treating for this disease, the 

 advice of an experienced veterinary surgeon 

 should be at once taken. 



FOOT-ROT. 



This is one of the most obstinate and pow- 

 erful local diseases to which the sheep is liable, 

 and, if not immediately attended to, is difficult 

 to cure. Should the affected animals not be 

 kept assiduously from the sound, the disease 

 will, for some time, obstinately keep possession 

 of the flock. The infected sheep, therefore, 

 should at first be carefully examined, and all 

 the diseased parts cut completely away. A 

 dressing should then be applied, consisting of — 



CoiTosive sublimate . . . 1 oz. 



Sulphate of iron . . . 1 j> 



Muriatic acid . . . . 1 ,> 



Sulphate of copper . . • 1 » 



Coarse turpentine . . . 1 u 



Sulphuric acid . . . . 1 j, 



Spirit of turpentine . . . 1 „ 



Slieep ointment . . . 4 „ 



This mixture, simple as it is, is sometimes a 

 necessary application. The sound portions of 

 the flock should have all their four feet dressed 

 with tar, and should be kept all night on a 

 floor smeared with quick-lime. As the diseased 

 slieep approach convalescence, they should be 

 carefully watched, and dressed, if required, 

 daily. In the course of 1862, this disease was 

 rather prevalent in the south-eastern districts ; 

 748 



and the following practical suggestions may be 

 valuable. Mr. E. C. AVaide, an experienced 

 farmer, says — " Take Jib. of alum, and 2 ozs. of 

 blue vitriol; boil them in one pint of water; 

 when quite cold, add f of a pint of aquafortis, 

 and it will be ready for use. It is equally effi- 

 cacious for the foul in beasts feet." Another 

 cure is suggested by a farmer at Malton: — 

 "With a sharp knife cut away the infected 

 part, and then, with a clean wooden skewer, 

 apply once a day some muriate of antimony. 

 This will stop the disease, and effect a cure. A 

 strong solution of sulphate of copper would 

 answer the purpose, applied with a brush ; but 

 it is neither so speedy nor so effectual." An 

 " East Suffolk Earmer" suggests the following, 

 which, he believes, is a certain cure : — " Take 

 sixpennyworth of quicksilver dissolved in six- 

 pennyworth of nitric acid ; add the same quan- 

 tity of good vinegar ; pare the horn well ; shake 

 the bottle, and apply to the parts affected. 

 One or two applications will be suflB.cient." 



THE SCAB 

 Is a disease of the skin, arising from the 

 presence of minute insects called acari. The 

 German naturalists trace it to the actual fact 

 of the acariis, which buries itself in the skin 

 of the animals, and which must be destroyed ; 

 and the sooner the better. The following oint- 

 ment rubbed in, the wool being first shed lon- 

 gitudinally, and at about four inches apart, 

 will often be successful : — 



Sand 2 lbs. 



Sulphur . . . . . 1 ), 

 Spirits of tar . . . . h „ 



The application of mercurial ointment is 

 another mode of cure. To make it — take from 

 three to five parts of lard, and mix with it one 

 part of strong mercurial ointment ; and after 

 parting the wool, rub it into the furrows 

 from the head to the tail, and about four inches 

 apart. — The following is also au effectual oint- 

 ment : — 



Lard or palm oil . . . 2 lbs. 

 Oil of tar . . . . h „ 



Sulphur . . . • . 1 » 



Mix the two latter ingredients gradually 

 together, and then rub down the former with 

 it. Tobacco- water is another remedy, which 

 has been found very effectual. 



