572 SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



ly to inoculation, from having observed on my own farm and elsewhere, 

 that healthy flocks have occupied with impunity fields adjoining those oc- 

 cupied by diseased ones — an open board or rail fence only separating 

 them. I have dz'awn the same inference also from the manner in which 

 the disease attacks flocks. The whole, or any considerable number, though 

 sometimes rapidly, are never simultaneously attacked, as we should expect 

 among animals so gregarious, if the disease could be communicated by 

 simple contact, inhaling the breath or other efiluvium. But not having pos- 

 itive and demonstrative proof of the correctness of the proposition, I would 

 advise no man to incur any risks, unnecessarily, founded on this assump- 

 tion, without first satisfying himself on the point. 



The matter of diseased feet is left on grass, straw, and other substances, 

 and thus is brought in contact with the inner surfaces of healthy feet. — 

 Sheep therefore contract the disease from being driven over the pastures, 

 yarded on the straw, &c., where diseased sheep have been, perhaps even 

 days befoi-e. The matter would probably continue to inoculate until dried 

 up by the air and heat, or washed away by the rains. The stiff" upright 

 stems of closely mown grass (as on meadows,) are almost as well calcu- 

 lated to receive the matter of diseased feet, and deposit it in the clefts of 

 healthy ones, as any means which could be devised artificially. I do not 

 consider it entirely safe to drive healthy sheep over roads, and especially 

 into washing-yards or sheep-houses, where diseased sheep have been, until 

 rain has fallen, or time has elapsed for the matter to dry up. On the 

 moist bottom of a washing-yard, and particularly in houses or sheds, kept 

 from sun and wind, and rain, this matter might be preserved for some time 

 in a condition to inoculate. 



Fouls. — Sheep are much less subject to this disease than cattle, but are 

 subject to it if kept in wet, filthy yards, or on moist, poachy ground. It is 

 an irritation of the integument in the cleft of the foot, slightly resembles 

 incipient hoof-ail, and produces lameness. But it produces no serious 

 structural disorganization — disappears without treatment — is not con- 

 tagious — and appears in the wet weather of spring and fall, instead of the 

 dry, hot period of summer when the hoof-ail rages most. A little solution 

 of blue vitriol, or a little spirits of turpentine, either followed by a coat- 

 ing of warm tar, promptly cures it. 



Goitre or Bronchocele. — I never have seen this classed among the 

 diseases of sheep, but the "swelled neck" in lambs is, like the goitre, an 

 enlargement of the thyroid glands, and it is strikingly analogous to, if not 

 identical with, that disease. It is congenital. The glands at birth are from 

 the size of a pigeon's to that of a hen's egg — though more elongated and 

 flattened than an egg in their form. The lamb is exceedingly feeble, 

 and often perishes almost without an effort to suck. Many even make no 

 effort to rise, and die as soon as they aie dropped. It is rare that one lives 

 — though three or four years since, a lamb in my flock having one of the 

 thyroid glands enlarged, grew up a large, healthy sheep. At a year old, 

 when disposed of, the enlarged gland was of the size of a goose-egg. 



No inconsiderable number of lambs annually perish from this disease. — 

 It does not appear to be an epizootic, though I think it more prevalent 

 eome seasons than others. It does not seem to depend upon the water, or 

 any other natural circumstances of a region, (as goitre is usually supposed 

 to,) as it may not prevail in the same flock or on the same farm once in 

 ten years. I never have been able to trace it to any particular kind of 

 food. That when it does appear, it is induced by some common local or 



(1052) 



