Treatment of Foot Rot. 357 



his sheep still limping and hobbling after he has, as he 

 thinks, given them proper attention, it is because he has been 

 ignorant of what the case demands. 



The most important, the absolutely indispensable part of 

 the treatment is> the preparation of the hoof, by cutting aioay 

 every particle of the diseased structure. No remedy will 

 succeed if this is neglected ; almost any one of the dozens 

 recommended will be satisfactory if this is well done. 



The sheep should first have their feet cleaned, by grazing 

 a day or two in a short, dry pasture ; or by being driven 

 through a gravelly brook, when this is practicable. As for 

 the operation itself, Mr. Clok gives the following directions, 

 w^hich are none too minute : — 



The operator provides himself with a strong and sharp, but 

 narrow-bladed knife. He seats himself, and has an assistant 

 turn the sheep on its back, and open the-cleft of the hoof. He 

 then begins at the suture and cuts out all horn which has sepa- 

 rated from the foot and is suffused with matter. The inner 

 sides of the horny capsule deserve special attention, as do also 

 the parts where the horn appears whiter and softer than on 

 the other parts of the hoof. The knife must be freely used, 

 and all loose horn removed up to the point whete the con- 

 nection remains unimpaired. The bleeding which may 

 occur is wholly without danger. 



A knowledge of the anatomy of the sheep's hoof will pre- 

 vent the abuse of the knife. It is proper, in all cases, to pare 

 down the sick hoof considerably at the toe and external wall, 

 because it can then be more easily examined, and it does not 

 touch the ground so forcibly when the animal is walking as 

 when it is larger than the healthy one. The knife must be 

 cleaned from time to time, so that the matter adhering to it 

 does not infect the healthy parts. 



If the disease is further advanced, and the secretion has 

 collected far down in the hoof, the same operation is per- 



