1870. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



69 



and rub a little melted lard, or sweet oil of 

 any kind, about the top of the head, under the 

 wings, and touch It upon the body in several 

 places. Do this once a month. The 'oil will 

 spread over the surface, get upon the vermin, 

 their breathing holes will be stopped, and they 

 will die. 



An observance of these simple rules will 

 keep fowls healthy, and enable them to pro- 

 duce about 160 eggs, for each hen, in the 

 course of the year. 



When we say that fowls must be kept warm, 

 we do not expect that all persons will find it 

 convenient to have a room where water would 

 not freeze, — but that it should be so tight that 

 wind will not enter, and so supplied with glass 

 as to admit the sun's rays during a large por- 

 tion of the day. A room lathed and plastered 

 would soon pay the cost in an increased pro- 

 duct of eggs. 



Artificial Manures. — A gentleman resid- 

 ing some sixty miles from Paris, has offered 

 to place 250 acres of his farm at the disposal 

 of manufacturers of portable manures. The 

 soil is above the average quality, and in good 

 condition. He will only ask them to supply 

 the stuff, he will sow and cultivate, pay for a 

 faithful registration of the experiments, and 

 will divide one-half the profits with the manu- 

 facturer. Up to the present time he pauses 

 for a reply. This is a fair proposition. We 

 ehould be glad to see it tried. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 FOOT-ROT IN SHE3EP. 



Editors New England Farmer: — Oen- 

 tlemen, — In compliance with your request I 

 herewith send you a few lines upon the sub- 

 ject named. 



As every man who has seen this disease has 

 his own opinion about its contagious character, 

 and also understands well its mode of work- 

 ing, perhaps It will not be best here to say 

 anything in regard to either of these two 

 points — excepting to state that I think there 

 is no evidence to lead us to infer that the dis- 

 ease Is s-elf-produclng, or that It is communi- 

 cated in any other way than by contact. 



When once started, it works Its mischief by 

 the process of ulceration. The particles of 

 living tissue within the hard shell of the foot 

 are gradually broken down, until the attach- 

 ment between the outer and inner portions Is 

 destroyed, and then the shell, in part, or as a 

 whole, drops off. 



"How shall I cure it.f" is the question which 

 every man asks, whose flock this calamity over- 



takes. The anatomy of the sheep's foot, and 

 the pathology of the disease, are matters which 

 may be talked over when we have no more 

 urgent business on hand. But, just now, help 

 me rid myself of this troublesome pest. 



Well, then, let every one be convinced of 

 the fact, that this disease Is only an ulcerating 

 sore, and needs for its removal — or cure — just 

 the same rational local treatment, that an in- 

 telligent physician would prescribe for a simi- 

 lar sore upon your finger, caused by the con- 

 tact of poisonous matter in some post-mortem 

 examination. A clean poultice, or lint mois- 

 tened with warm water, would be about all 

 that would be demanded for the finger. But 

 as we cannot carry the same delicacy into the 

 treatment of sheep's feet, let our treatment 

 be regulated on the same principle — that is, 

 cleanliness, as perfect and entire as can pos- 

 sibly be obtained, and as lasting as the case 

 demands. Here lies the whole secret in "cur- 

 ing" this annoying disease, which so gener- 

 ally affects the flocks of New England. My 

 conclusion is not drawn from theory alone ; 

 but from actual practice, no less. 



From a number of the worst cases I have 

 ever seen in my own flock, I selected seven 

 for experiment — none could be found worse 

 than these seven. 



After every particle of the shell of the ail- 

 ing feet, that could be flayed up easily from 

 the ulcerating tissue beneath, had been cut 

 away with a sharp knife, the feet were care- 

 fully and thoroughly washed In cold water, 

 and the sheep put into a dry pen, well littered 

 with clean straw. Now for the result. I ex- 

 amined those feet every day. Where manure 

 adhered, so as to prevent needed observation, 

 it was washed off. No knife was used. Not 

 a drop of matter was ever seen upon one of 

 them. The loose, ragged tissues contracted 

 and became dry externally, new shell com- 

 menced to form, and as soon as time enough 

 had passed, every foot was clad in as clean 

 and sound a hoof as ever a sheep stood upon. 

 This experiment taught me how to "cure" 

 foot-rot ; and if a man has but a small flock, 

 or a small number affected, and can give the 

 requisite time to it, nothing more Is needed. 

 I have tried this plan In other Instances, and 

 always with the same result. 



Still some aid may be obtained In treating 

 large numbers, from vitriol. I think this all 

 that ever need be applied, and the action of 

 this agent Is purely mechanical. It contracts 

 or puckers up the tissues that have been eaten 

 into shreds by ulceration, and so doubtless 

 squeezes out the minute particles of poison- 

 ous virus fi'om the deep cavities In the dis- 

 eased part, and bringing the live fibres into 

 closer contact, the healing process is assisted. 

 As a wet sponge if thoroughly squeezed, 

 will dry more quickly than if laid in the sun 

 while filled with water, and as if kept com- 

 pressed It will not as readily absorb more 

 moisture, so vitriol, by Its astringent property, 



