FOOT ROT IN SHEEP. 45 



complaint, and am strongly impressed with the behef that I 

 shall eliect a radical cure— after having tried almost every thing 

 else but to little etFect. If you should think it worth communi- 

 cating to the public in your useful Journal, you are requested so 

 to do. From your humble servant, Rufus Gav. 



Pillston, Feb. 6, 1820. 



FOOT ROT I\ SHEEP. 



hi thp Report of the Merino flock of the Earl of Lismore, by the 

 Rev. Thomas Kadclitf. it is remaiked, that the flock is almost 

 wholly i'vec from lametiess, and that ihis is principally owing to 

 fre(jU(ntUi paring the. hoofs. 'J'he drying wash used by the Shep- 

 herds, when needful, is thus composed : '' Take blue vitriol, white 

 vitriol, rock or roche alum, and verdigris, of each three ounces ; 

 rub them together in a mortar, and add one quart of scalding vine- 

 gar ; stir it well and cover it down to cool ; then add half a pint of 

 spirits of turpentine and half a pint of s[)irits of wine or new rum, 

 and cork it up in a clear stone bottle. It is a good wash for pinch- 

 es and recent bruises and all incipient inilammations." 



[JVew Monthly Magazine, for 1820. 



Note. As the disease is chiefly under the hoof, it is of the first 

 consecjuence to cut that away so as to expose the ulcers ; and when 

 washed clean, the liquid preparation should be applied. The feet 

 of the sheep should be often examined, and the knife and liquid 

 freely applied, until the disease is eradicated. 



P. S. Sheep that are very lame should be kept by themselves 

 in a dry place in the barn or shed, and well dressed every day for 

 four or five days, — the others should be carefully dressed every 

 second or third day until they are well, — paring away the hoofs as 

 high as the feet are atfected is absolutely necessary. In cases 

 where the hoof is nearly or quite all cut otf, they should be cover- 

 ed with strong rags, or boots made of strong cloth or tarred sheep- 

 skins, to tie above the hoof. 



2d P S. The litter where the Sheep stand to feed at the rack, 

 should be removed every second or third day, as^^lbecomes im- 

 pregnated with the infectious matter and impedes the cure of those 

 that are lame, and communicates the distemper to others. 



H. D. 



The above precaution I received from Mr. Jehvis, of Vermont, 

 who has had much experience in Sheep, and has a flock of Saxony 

 Sheep purchased at the time I purchased mine. His remedy for 

 the hoof distemper is, paring the hoof and washing in soap suds 

 and then blue vitriol dissolved in spirits of turpentine and rum. 



N. B. After all, the cutting away of the hoofs so as to lay the 

 whole of the infected parts open to the dressing, is most essential. 



