514 LOCAL NON-OONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 



some false stimulation abnormally increase its formation, al- 

 thougli its character would be changed and degenerated. 



Now it would appear plausible that if sheep are grazed on 

 wet pastures, the continual maceration the horny covering re- 

 ceives would eventually affect its structure, and that the coronary 

 cushion would also from the same cause secrete a softened ab- 

 normal horn, the oily covering of which being washed off, es- 

 pecially in the cleft, would render the parts liable to not only 

 soreness and inflammation from friction and contact with dirt 

 and foreign matter, but would render them liable to absorb ma- 

 terial, the presence of which would tend to set up inflammation 

 and disintegration of the horn substance, and if that state is per- 

 mitted to endure for any length of time the bones or soft struc- 

 tures of the foot would perforce of circumstances also become in- 

 volved in the process of degeneration. 



In considering the causes liable to induce foot-rot we must 

 then lay great stress on the grazing of sheep in wet, low-lying 

 pastures, and every authority, even those who advocate the 

 theory of its contagiousness, admit that for the disease to exist it 

 is necessary that the sheep should have been grazed on wet land. 

 Mr. Read in an essay upon the subject, which has been frequently 

 mentioned by different authorities, says: 



"Low situations conjoined with moisture are the fruitful 

 and primary causes of foot-rot. Sheep in these situations have 

 their hoofs and the integument above, to which they are uniteA, 

 and the highly elastic tissue situated between the claws constantly 

 in a wet and humid state. Go into any of these pastures after 

 the sheep have been placed there for only a short period and 

 look at their feet. Will there not be an increased growth of the 

 hoof? Will not the skin around the coronet and highly sensi- 

 tive membrane be blanched? Will not the vascularity of the 

 parts be weakened from its circulation being enfeebled? 'Now 



