210 DISEASES OF SHEEP. 



the man who, dehided hy some of the mischievous theojios of thf day, 

 believes that he may keep a glandered horse in his stable with im- 

 punily. 



The treatment of foot-rot is simple enough, and, in the early stage 

 of the complaint, usually successful. The foot must be carefully 

 examJn-.tl, and every portion of horn that has separated from the parts 

 beneath thoroughly removed, and the sore lightly touched with the 

 butyr (rhloride) of antimony, applied by means of a small quantity 

 of tow lolled round a flat bit of stick, and then dipped into the caustic. 

 A strong* r, and oftentimes a better, application is made by dissolving 

 eorrosivo sublimate in spirits of wine. Hydrochloric acid is also a 

 very usefu) caustic for foot-rot. If a fungus is sprouting at the place 

 vvhere iho horn separates from the foot, it must be first cut away with 

 the knife, and then the root of it touched also with the caustic; or, 

 wiiat is still better, it may be removed by means of a hot iron. It is 

 necessary, indeed, to be rather sparing with the use of the knifo 

 thivugliout the disease. There will seldom, except in very bad cases, 

 be iiecessity for binding the foot up ; indeed, the animal will generally 

 do l«?tter withuut this. It will be seen by the altered colour of the 

 pajt A'hether the caustic has been applied with sufficient severity, 

 and the dry surface wliich will be formed over the sore will protect it 

 from all common injury better than any covering. 



To these must be added that reasonable and successful practice of 

 remoting the sheep to higher ground. Sheep among whom the foot- 

 rot is beginning to appear are sometimes completely cured by being 

 drivewi to higher and dryer ground. Some farmers, and with a great 

 deal of advantage, have their flocks driven four or five times daily 

 along a hard road. They thus accomplish two purposes — they wear 

 away the irregularly formed horn, the unequal pressure of which has 

 irritated and inflamed the foot, and the remainino- horn is hardened, 

 and enabled better to resist the influence of the moist or soft ground. 

 Where the ulceration is extensive, means must be adopted similar to 

 those recommended for the treatment of fvul in the foul in cattle; but 

 in mosLcases it will be more profitable to the farmer to destroy the 

 sheep tnat has bad foot-rot, if it is in tolerable condition, rather than 

 rely on a cure that is uncertain, and during the progress of which the 

 animal very rapidly loses flesh and fat. 



If, however, he is determined to attempt a cure, let him wash the 

 foot well from all grit and dirt, and then cut off every loose and de- 

 tached piece of horn, and every excrescence and fungus, and covei 

 the wound with the following powder: — 



RECIPE (No. 12). 

 Caustic ^strivrrevt Powder for Foot- Rot .—Take verdigris; bole armenian , and 

 iugar of lead, equal parts. Rub them well together, until they are reduced to a fine 

 powder. 



This should be sprinkled over the sore, and a little dry Tow p.aced 

 npon it, and bound neatly and firmly down with tape. The animal 

 should afterwards stand in a dry fold-yard for four-and-twenty huurs. 



