268 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



out, and the wound heals of itself. But when the sheep 

 is poor and weak, the wound must be examined daily, 

 and dressed with tar and grease ; and the animal must 

 be put in a dry pasture. This disorder is likely to re- 

 turn on mismanagement in keeping. Diuretics are good 

 for this disease, as they carry off the water by increasing 

 the discharge of urine ; but these must be used in mod- 

 eration, lest the kidneys be injured by over action. 



FOOT-ROT. 



This disorder is occasioned by sheep going in wet 

 pastures. There is an issue in the division of each foot, 

 a little above the hoof, which some have erroneously 

 supposed to be a living worm. When sheep stand long 

 in the water, it affects the issues in their feet, so that an 

 inflammation takes place, and their feet will rot off, 

 without some remedy. One great cause is that soft, low 

 lands encourage a rapid gTowth of the hoof, which would 

 be worn away if the sheep travelled far on rough, high 

 lands. 



Some suppose that this disease has been imported into 

 this country in modern days, and that it is produced and 

 propagated only by contagion and infection, and that 

 diseased sheep may leave infectious matter when they 

 travel, that will communicate the disorder to others that 

 pass the same way months afterwards. 



Preventive. Though nature has provided the issues 

 in the feet of sheep for a useful purpose, as well as those 

 in the legs of swine, yet some recommend taking out 

 those issues when sheep run in low lands. It may be 

 done thus : put the finger on the under side of the foot 

 and press upward, then with a sharp knife cut tlirough 

 the skin around the mouth of the issue, and with a strong 



Eair of tweezers it may be pulled out ; the place will then 

 eal, and tlie sheep will not be liable to the foot-rot, 

 though they run in wet pastures. 



Another Preventive. Make the sheep travel every 

 day over a rough surface that will wear away their hoofs 

 as they grow; or every fortnight rub them dov*Ti with 



