342 



THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



tunity for infection by the special germ existing in the decaying 

 soil. This is the history of this disease which is exceedingly 

 troublesome once it makes a start on a pasture and in a flock. 



Prevention is obvious. Drain wet pastures. Avoid feeding 

 sheep on wet, muddy lands. And carefully inspect the feet, at 

 short intervals, paring the under curved walls which turn under 



FIG. 23. Early Stage of Foot-Rot. FIG. 24. Advanced Foot-Rot. 



the sole, and gather the offending matter. When the disease 

 occurs, carefully dress the sores with any prepared hoof ointment, 

 after washing them in a solution of one pound of sulphate of cop- 

 per in 5 gallons of water, and in the same proportion as one 

 ounce to 1^ quarts of water. An excellent ointment for the feet so 

 diseased is made in this way: Melt four parts of Burgundy pitch, 

 add one part of vaseline, one part of turpentine, and one part of 

 acetate of copper finely powdered, and stir until cool. Apply this 

 to the pores. Keep the sheep on clean pasture until recovery. 



It will be obvious that this treatment is wholly inadmissible 

 in large flocks. Some more convenient method is used in these 

 cases. A suitable arrangement is made by which the flock may 

 be passed through the curative antiseptic preparation placed in a 

 trough of suitable size, in much the same manner in which sheep 

 are dipped as a preventive and cure for the scab, as will be de- 

 scribed hereafter under the appropriate heading. The trough should 

 have sufficient length to thoroughly introduce the disinfecting 

 liquid, which is two inches deep in the trough. The flock is first 

 driven up or down a stream of clear water, or the feet are pre- 

 pared by paring off the diseased horn so that the disinfecting 

 fluid may penetrate to every part of the feet. This operation is 

 most conveniently performed at the shearing time, and is then in- 



