22© On Tunis Sheep. 



are rare. Yet they are not inactive ; but use sufficient 

 exercise for health, without wandering and fickleness as 

 to pastures. In these they are not overnice ; and will 

 keep in good condition, upon coarser and less food, 

 than any sheep I am acquainted with. 



5. Their general healthfulness enables them to re- 

 tain their fleeces. A diseased Tunis sheep is rare ; 

 even in a mixed fiock, in which other sheep have been 

 subject to every disease known in that animal. I have 

 had them disordered in the feet, with \\\t fouls, but not 

 the foot rot. If the hoofs of sheep are examined, there 

 will be found a small openhig, near and above the fore 

 part of the cleft. It is the mouth of a duct, running 

 up the shank ; and calculated for the emission of a mu. 

 cilaginous oil, which lubricates, supports and assists in 

 the growth and renewal of the corneous parts of the 

 hoof. Perhaps it is also a drain for humours, which, 

 when confined, become morbid and peccant. If this 

 closes, the disease appears.-^ Examine well, and rub 

 briskly the parts together. Assist the opening of the 

 duct, and the discharge of the morbid and stagnated 

 matter, in every way. Poke juice, I have found effi- 

 cacious. Few are acquainted with this part of the ani- 

 mal structure, though, I believe, all cloven-footed ani- 

 mals are thus formed. Swine have the duct, in the hin- 



* Worms are often lound in this duct, and in the shanks of 

 common sheep. None have ever been discovered in the 

 shank, or in this duct, of the Tunis sheep. Probably because 

 the ^voolh"less of the part kept off the insect which generates 

 these worms ; if so they originate. The disease I call the 

 fouls in the Tunis sheep, is occasioned by coagulated mat- 

 ter, and not worms, in this duct. . ^ 



