39° THE FARM DOCTOR. 



wounds with sharp bodies Hke nails, glass, etc. ; the accumula- 

 tion and drying of clay or mud between the claws ; softening 

 of the horn and irritation from standing on hot reeking manure ; 

 irritation of the skin around the coronets by iced water, etc. 



Symptoms will vary according to the form, but in all there is 

 lameness, often severe, the sheep getting down on its knees to 

 feed, and an examination of the foot shows the nature of the 

 injury. In the case of wounds with nails, glass, etc., the heat 

 of the hoof will show the injured one, and a slight paring will 

 detect the wound if not the offending body. 



Treatment. — In case of a simple superficial rawness between 

 the claws, clean the part and touch with a feather dipped in a 

 mixture of one part of sulphuric acid and three or four parts of 

 water ; or the surface may be smeared with tar and a bandage 

 tied between the claws and around the pastern. In case of 

 the formation of matter beneath the horn the foreign body, if 

 any, should be removed, the detached horn pared away until 

 we reach that which is still connected with the quick, the sur- 

 rounding horn should be pared down to a thin edge and the 

 sore covered with tar, with a ie^N drops of sulphuric acid on the 

 surface, the whole being closely bound up in a bandage. In 

 exceptional cases the severity of the inflammation may demand 

 a poultice, over the surface of which a weak solution of sugar 

 of lead may be poured. One tar dressing is often enough, but 

 the foot should always be examined a few days after, and any 

 hindrance to the healing process removed. Bad cases with 

 fungous growths must be treated like similar cases in the horse. 

 Sheep kept in low, soft pastures should have the hoof 

 shortened by a knife or toe nippers at short intervals, to pre- 

 vent injury to the sole. 



CONTAGIOUS FOOT-ROT 



Presents symptoms resembling those of siiiipk foot-rot, but 

 usually begins at the coronet, unless in the case of pre-existing 



