SECRETARY'S REPORT. 87 



thing. It may be from a rupture in the bag caused bypressure, 

 and this comes in the case of the best cows. The difficulty is, 

 you have no warning till it comes. It is a good plan to milk as 

 many as three times a day, so as to prevent the strain. An 

 excellent application is the common spearmint and lard, sim- 

 mered together, so as to form an ointment. I would prevent 

 the necessity for the use of anything of this kind if possible ; 

 but if any application is needed, this is excellent. 



As to the fouls, or hoof-ail, there are many remedies. 



The President. — Do you regard the fouls and foot-ail as the 

 same thing ? 



Mr. Smith. — I am not certain about that. I find cattle take 

 them in the same way. You let young cattle run together, and 

 they all have it. I think they get it from being in muddy or 

 clayey pastures. But we never get it in our pastures nor have 

 it, unless it is brought there in some herd. We often have cattle 

 from the clayey pastures of New York, that bring it with them. 

 For cattle that are just beginning to have it, I find spirits of 

 turpentine, or vitriol water, is good. I dilute oil of vitriol or 

 sulphuric acid, about half, and work it in between the hoofs 

 with a swab. They kick some ; but the kicking helps work it 

 in, and they are cured, generally, with a few applications. 

 Cases of long standing are more difficult to cure ; and when it 

 gets among sheep, it is worse among the old sheep than the 

 lambs ; for it seems to get into the blood in time. I had one 

 extremely severe case in which it seemed to be in the blood. 

 I cured that by first getting the hoof perfectly clean, and 

 applying vitriol water, and then giving sulphur. After being 

 cured in that way I kept the animal three or four years, and he 

 was not troubled with it again. I think the disease is taken by 

 feeding over ground where the matter is left by the cattle or 

 sheep that have gone over the grass before. It docs not spread 

 in the winter. Put a sheep that has it in among others in the 

 winter, and they will not take it ; but in the summer, in feeding 

 over the same ground, they take it. My cattle all took it from 

 that one which had it so severely. It took nearly six months 

 before they all had it ; but not one escaped. 



Mr. Perkins, of Becket. — I think we may come to some 

 certain results with regard to caked bag. The point to be 



