162 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER. 



Vol 2j 



For the Xrw GeiiLScc lartnir. 

 Foot ail ill Sbeep. 



Me98r«. Kdiiore ; — No:icink; on nrttcle in ihe Insl 

 Gjnc'oee Former on tbe aiibjtcl oi foot rot ill slicep, 

 ill wbiub tlie uriier says he has prcveiiicd ibe disease 

 by paring olV ihe under side of ihe houf, I am induced 

 lo trouble yoa wiiU a \Vi>rd on that subject. 



I do not know but poring tbe boofin the manner he 

 suggests miy be bcneliciol, but I doubt altogeiber that 

 il produces the etfect the writer supposes. 1 tbinit he 

 mistakes tbe nature of tbe disease ; I do not consider 

 it to originate in the ball of the foot — the part covered 

 by tbe envelop which the writer would pare off, and 

 of course do not believe, as he supposes, that the dis- 

 ease is generated by the filth collocied in liie foot, and 

 pro ce:ed and retained iliiic, by that part of tbe hoof 

 which grows over the sole of the foot. 



Tiic disease coinrnencce between the clows of the 

 foot, at tbe Siiot where tiiehorn of the hoof unites with 

 the rtesh. At its conmicnccmont it exhibits the np- 

 peirancG of a slight inil.irninrttion as if chnfed or scol- 

 ded. Tue animal at this stage is slightly lame. ' It 

 soon bccom. s a sore, with ftliglu inatnrati'in. which is 

 8 imewbot felid. It row ottrocts the ninggni-lly and 

 is soon tilled with imggnts — unless destroyed, they 

 c insuine shortly tbe entire ba I of the foot. II the 

 fore foot is diseased, being bro.iglu into con'.oct with 

 tlie aide of tbe nninint wijcn in o lying posture, it de- 

 posits on the side some portion of the fetid discharge. 

 Tliis attracts the 11 , md the side is soon alive with ma- 

 gois, which eat throngh the bi^- in a few days, thus 

 causing the death of the animal. 



Now I hove no idea that the theory of the writer 

 alluded to above is at all correct, nor that his remedy 

 o*' paring the hoof is a preventive of the disease. 



I suppose the disease originates in natural causes — 

 tint it IS iminediaiely induced by on acrid ttate of the 

 fluids of the animal — that in certain eeasone and loca- 

 tions it will prevail, n\r.\ at other times will not ; that 

 the discharire from the large pore or issue which ex- 

 ists in the leg just above the parting of tbe claws be- 

 ing dhmscA and iicrid, scalds the flesh between the 

 claws — which is always tender — the pan becomes in- 

 flamed — a fetid inauiration ensues — the fly is thus in- 

 vited M b;8 work, anl soon completes the miscliief — 

 Wual may be the remote cause i;f tbe disease is not 

 certainly known ; whether the wetness or dryness of 

 the seas hi, or the food of tbe aiiii^iil, o sortie no.xious 

 or piisonou-f herbage may oi may not be concerned in 

 it, I cannot say any more tlinn I can tell why the in- 

 fluenza or other ejiidemics should prevail at certain 

 times and not in oiicrs, or why all the members of a 

 family circumstanced alike, should not be alike affect- 

 ed liy it. 



Tne d. sense seems to be, with us, one of modern 

 introduction. We have known it only a few ycar.s. — 

 It IS a c-ilamity, and the part of wied iin is to discover 

 its cause, if possib'c. Bias to know bow to apply pre- 

 veir.ives — :n failure of this, to learn the nutiiic of the 

 disorder, so as to apply si.itable and efficient reme- 

 dies. 



An opinion prevails, that it is infectiotiu. 1 ilo not 

 yet believe it is either contagious or inlectious — either 

 com iiuiiicabie by the presence of a diseased animal, 

 or by matter deposited on the ground and received by 

 a sound loot by treading ihereon. 1 hue no idea from 

 olHcrvolioiis bithcrio made, that tbe disease is ilnis 

 communicable. It is possible, I allow, a d therefore 

 I have for experiment, separated the d.seased from tbe 

 sound. Cut I hav;> loimd no unexpected increase ol 

 new cases, when they have been all together, nor has 

 there appeared to be any diminution of new cases 

 when they have betn sepa'oted. Wh.m the animal 

 hiis been long confined to low mnisl ground, and the 

 season bus beim wet, I have imagined this might b- 

 Ibo originating cars'. Again, whcn^he seas 'ii li> 



been uncommonly dry, as during the past Euoinier, gate or door of tbe floblo or pen invbicb the ebe 

 and the disease has prevailed, coni lusivo evidence is ; are enclosed, ond leaving the ttnfcle they [.osa in a fel 



furnished that the character of the season in this rC' 

 spect is not tbe cauee. At one lime I have imagined 

 that poverty of condition niigbt br iig it on, ond at an- 

 other time this opinion has betii met by the fact that 

 sheep lit for the butciier'e stall have been equally af- 

 ftcted with those that were poor and thin. 



I have been conversant with sheep husbandry for 

 many years, but hove known nothing of this disease 

 until within four or live years past.- In reflecting on 

 the subject, I con realize no difference in the care and 

 management of my own flick between the lost five 

 years and any former period, except that formerly it 

 was toy practice to keep in their pasture, troughs ul- 

 icuys snpjilicd with stttt^ protected by a rail over the 

 toji, aupporieil by stakes, so that the animal could have 

 access wiih tbe bead to the salt, but could not get into 

 it with the feet to soil and injure it. This practice 

 has been neglected for a few season.s pa t, and salt hoj 

 bceii^d out flccus:on'dly to the flock during tbe sea 

 son. Whether ibis change bos bad any influence in 

 eousing or aiding tbe disease, I kn iw noi. lean 

 however, realizj no diiK;rcnce in their circuinslancCa 

 for many years, except iu this respect. Although we 

 consider tali necessary for the bialih and comfort of 

 the animal, and that nature will dictate just the a- 

 monnt needed when a supply is always ajttnni, still 

 it is by no means certain th-it the wont of such supply 

 will cause or aid the dieeasc— we can only eoy it is 

 pocsible. 11 the theory is correct and leadoiiiib e lliai 

 tbe local diseasi; commences in an acrid discharge 

 from the pore or issue above the foot, and if an unre- 

 stricted use of salt would have a favorable iullueuce on 

 the fluids ond secretions of the animal, then pel bops 

 its tVe2 use daring the sumnier niigh'. prevent the op- 

 pcnraiice of the disorder. 



This disease is not iit'cesaarily iuciiii.iilc or fatal but 

 it is an inconvenient and troublesome malady and re- 

 quires EDine labor and attention to subdue it. 



As to the remedies. Lime — being a powerful an- 

 tiseptic should be employed as a jrrct'ciiftrc ond 

 remedy in the first stages of the diccose. Let tl.e flock 

 be made to pass through a small bed of lime once o 

 week from the lesi of June until the first of Septem- 

 ber. Collect them into a stable or pen, and make it 

 necessary in going out of it f.ir them to pass tbicnig 

 a passage sime three or four feet wid>.", ond twelve i>r 

 fiiieen feel long, tbe flioror biUtoin of wlnoli being 



inomen.s through this passage of lipic. I recmi 

 mend this practice urgently to farmers » ho cither liav 

 the disease in their flocks, or who fear and drcnd i 

 approach. 1 hove mode these suggestions, Mr. Edito 

 in the hope of drawing the attention of formers to thy 

 subject, that flacks hitherto sound, may, if po^sJ 

 be 60 preserved, and that those which ore discasi 

 may be restored and a recurrence of the disorder I 

 prevented. A FARMER. 



ISrighton. Oclubcr 11, IbJI. 



iujiie 

 fJt 



Early auU Late Fruit»\'illagc of Aurora, 



Lovers of fruits and flowers, and the corly thini 

 the gorden, were you ever at Aiiloro, on tbe ea^ll 

 shore uf (.'»>uga Eake ? It is u quiet, vnnbtius; 

 villogc, where the rich live in great eiinpliciiy — i 

 poor, with decent c unfort.. Here arc grei-n peas 

 let June, ripe potatoes and apples in July ; the nv 

 delicious plums an I peuehes in August; and. ai tl 

 lime, such high li.ivored clingstone peaches, grnpi 

 and apples, as few otiier plirccs can boost. 



'Tie said that w lien D. T. comes down from 

 spaikling Eden a.G^eot Field tv.o mill s ea,i: he c 

 his tye a' t!ic pn-cocous vegelo:ion of ili s lake-vvoinii 

 cd spot with a sigh, not from em y, for bis oinn pres. 

 ent chriftionity ejects the feeling, 'tis only on imo. 

 tion of regret, that Flora and romonn could not be 

 thus pioplliaied at his more elevmed location. 



I have often heord it said that leaches did not 

 thrive on .*. clay soil, but here arc the best peaches in 

 tbe world, growing in great variety, on a hard ceh a- 

 reouB clay relieved by s'.able manure aione. Tbe 

 trees are never pruned, the soil around ihcni is kept 

 loose and entirely clear from grata and weeds. 



Reader, if you never saw a villogc where fi iices ond j. 

 locks were .unnecessary to prole t the frui'.s and flnw- ( 

 ers from biped tlcpredati.m go to Aurora : Here oie I 

 Foil Pippins, Pound Sweets, and Brush's Nonesuc::, [ 

 lying in heaps — all who rnn may cat with inipuniiy, 



itl'« 



the lialonce is fed to the cattle. 



Il bos been s'lld ihai a poor man cannot live in Au-= 

 rora, but ibi following anecdote will show that a poor 

 man's widow is of quite a different opinion A ft 

 years since, a laboring man of this vi'logc remo\dc 

 with his family to Indiana, where lie aficrvvanla died; 

 of a congestive fever, leaving bis wife ai'd ciiildreii in 

 dcMituti.in. The shrewd widow immediately wroi« 

 to her former iieigbms at Auroro, soliciting their 

 covered with finely flack lime, about four inches ciocp. I chority ; lUc result wasihato purse wus mode u,)Y,-r. 

 It will enter heiween I'ue cluw.s, give healthy action to |,er relief, which w.aa remitted to her by moil ; whi 

 any small sore and corriict any iriitiiled discharge, ,ho widow opened the letter, she held up the suf 

 thus preventing tbe inviiaiion of the fly. In place of I /-((nrf 4;;;, to the astonished gozo 01 tbe longfirgt 

 the, a little Blue Vitiiol, finely powdered, and appli- j Ijooslcis, saying there was more where that .am ' 

 ed to tbe diseased part, will ininiediatciy diy up and ; iVotn, and ibut every .loilur of this, thould he expend 

 heal the sore. If tbe foot is badlj d'S-ased, and niog i ea in paying her passage, and tiial of her cb.ldreii|_ 

 gots are presenl, pare tbe hoof so as 10 expose them j ba^k fj Aurora. S'le did come back in the cheeileas" 

 and opply spirits of Turpentine wliich will inslonily j ,j„„„i, of November, but so farlVom lind.iig a eld re-'' 

 dielolgeond soon destroy ihem— use a probe lo be i gpj,t|„|,_ iij^ ^e -itol of one half ber sufl'erings Bullied ' 

 ceilaiii ihot they are ail removed, and t' en apply the j i„ unlock every female heart in the villnijc; a general ' 

 blue vitriol to the diseased part. A^i ibe foot in this j contribution took place, one furnished a bod, anotiier- 

 ease will he sore and tender for some diiys it will b« , ^-ii^ire, a third a table, knives, forks, &.i;. &c. The >' 

 necessary, in oid.ir 10 prevent a return of the fly until 1 jvjdow and her little onts are now the c luiiortabloiiti 

 It becomes sound, ii ii.iply tar freely to the foot, ex- .[(Jy^ inJusirious poir ones of Aurora, who are only <^ 

 lending tbe tar an in -li or two on too leg above the poor in coiiipnrispn with the gcnefnl-thrift which sur-«> 

 hoof to prevent tbe fly ctreclua'dy from apyjipaebing | lonnds ihciO. ' ' ' ■ ■ > -' -f . ^ ^ 



it. It will also be necessary 10 examine the uoof core- Here is an Academy well endowed, and whst in 

 I'ully once in three or t.iurdays until it becomes per j better, cheoply and tho:-i.ghly conductnl. A strofr 

 leclly sound. I think much of the use of lime, as j y,. would ulnioRt imagine himself at times in n llii i 1 

 above suggested, both oa occoiiiil of its efficiepcy and j steam boats, or on boaid of o man of «av : so of . 1 , 

 the fuciliiy of i!s employment. I use for this purpose both l"lc and eai'ly, dots the bi-il sirike, .'uinni.iiniig 



the closses to recitation. 'Tis said tlint the only pm- 

 ishment the principal inflicts on a dull 'die pupil, ic i.i 

 recoinn end biin 10 go where ho will be ixquiifd '.a 

 Gtudv b-'. 



the common pouablc slicep rock in w-liich hay is fed in 

 winter, about twelve or lourteen feet long and two 

 onl half wide. I nail fo it n temporary totioni and 

 put iu iholinic I'Mir inches deep, placing it before the 



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