124 VETERINARY LECTURES 



being careful not to cut too deep or make the part bleed ; then the sores 

 should be dressed with a strong solution of blue vitrol or crude 

 carbolic acid, or a mixture of equal parts of the two, and the sheep 

 so treated should be turned on to some sharp fallow for three or 

 four hours every day. When the disease is very rife, and a large 

 number of sheep are affected, a strong solution of sulphate of copper 

 may be put into a trough, and the sheep driven through it every 

 fourth or fifth day. Arsenic is also used in a similar way ; but 

 I strongly advocate the spreading of crushed rock-salt to about 

 4 inches thick on the floor of a good-sized open shed or loose-box, 

 and the animals being put in to paddle amongst it three or four 

 hours every day. To prevent the occurrence of this complaint, the 

 sheep ought to be turned on to some good sharp fallow for three or 

 four hours daily. 



DOG. 



213. The dog's foot differs very materially from that of the horse, 

 cow, and sheep by having four toes and horny appendages, or claws ; 

 with a fifth, or dew-claw, on the inner side of the leg, a little above 

 the foot. Strange, this fifth appendage, or dew-claw, is found on the 

 fore-leg of dogs of every class, but not often on the hind-limbs, the latter 

 being mostly observed on curs, retrievers, and mongrel-bred dogs, 

 and sometimes they are double. All sporting dogs, however, are, as 

 a rule, exempt from them. These dew-claws are sometimes attached 

 to the limb merely by the skin, or by a bony connexion. The ground- 

 surface of the dog's foot is protected by five firm dense elastic pads, 

 one under each toe and one at the back of the foot. 



214. Dew-Claws. — These, when large, should be cut off the 

 hind-legs, as they are of very little use, and apt to get torn, and cause 

 troublesome sores ; they are readily removed by clipping them off 

 with a pair of sharp scissors or bone forceps. Stop the bleeding 

 with a pad of medicated cotton-wool and bandage, and leave this 

 on for twenty-four hours ; then leave the wound to the antiseptic 

 dressing of the dog's tongue. 



215. The Claws. — Dogs that are petted, and pass the principal 

 part of their time trotting about on carpets, have their claws growing 



