238 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



parts beneath, causes inflammation, which not being at once rem* 

 edied, increases with the above results. The means of prevention 

 are obvious. 



The treatment consists in removing the offending matter with 

 great care and tenderness by means of the knife or a small probe, 

 as a knitting needle or wire, cleansing the foot, and washing it io 

 astringent and antiseptic solutions, such as the following : 



Chloride of Zinc 1 ounce. 



Water 1 quart. 



sulphate of copper or sugar of lead may be substituted for the 

 chloride of zinc. In very bad cases the treatment for malignant 

 foot-rot should be adopted. Removal from wet pastures is neces- 

 sary to a cure, and for some time afterwards, or the trouble will 

 quickly recur. 



Epizootic aphtha (foot-and-mouth disease), is highly contagious, 

 and will rapidly spread through a flock. It affects the feet as well 

 as the lips and tongue. The treatment has been already described 

 in this chapter. 



Inflammation of the Interdigital Canal. This is of frequent 

 occurrence when sheep are driven upon sandy or dusty roads, are 

 pastured on sandy lands, or are permitted to lie in muddy yards. 

 Offending matter enters the canal and causes inflammation, which 

 spreads to the interior of the foot, and results in swelling and great 

 tenderness. Removal of the irritating matter by means of a small 

 probe or the trimmed end of a feather dipped in oil, and bathing 

 the foot in warm water and vinegar, are generally sufficient to re- 

 mote the trouble. When sheep become lame, and the foot is 

 found hot, with no sign of outward cause, this may be at once 

 suspected. 



Canker of the foot is a very obstinate disease. It consists of in- 

 flammation of the sole of the foot, which gives way to a growth 

 of spongy sprouts instead of the natural hoof, and a discharge of 

 white curdy matter which has a most offensive odor. It is a simi- 

 lar disease to thrush or canker of the frog in horses. The most 

 frequent causes are folding the sheep in yards or sheds, where the 

 dung is allowed to collect in a mass which ferments and heats, and 

 from neglected cases of common foot-rot or inflammation of the 

 interdigital canal. 



The treatment consists of the removal of all the separated hoof 

 at the first and every future dressing, along with any that may 

 appear sound, but has dead offensive matter beneath it. The foot 

 should then be washed in a solution of one dram of chloride of 



