468 INFECTIVE DISEASES. 



5. That the contagium of foot-rot remains for some time in 

 the system (ten to twenty days and longer) without any indication 

 of disease appearing in the skin between the claws. An infected 

 sheep may therefore escape detection even by an expert, and may 

 introduce foot-rot into a sound flock. 



One attack does not confer immunity. The disease has been 

 known to recur in sheep which have only recently recovered from 

 an outbreak. 



The disease is no^ communicable to other animals, including 

 man. The flesh is harmless, but as in severe cases the sheep are 

 emaciated, the carcass is in consequence of httle, if of any, value 

 as food. 



The nature of the contagium is unknown. 



Stamping-out System.— Sheep should not be allowed to be 

 moved from an infected district except for slaughter. When sheep 

 are purchased to add to the stock on a farm, they should be 

 isolated for two or three weeks, and carefully watched before they 

 are allowed to mix with other sheep. If this disease is detected 

 in a flock, every animal should be carefully examined, and any 

 suspicious as well as any diseased sheep should be completely isolated 

 from the rest. Pleming recommends that those which have been 

 in contact, though still apparently quite healthy, should as a pre- 

 cautionary measure, be made to pass through a trough containing 

 a solution of chloride of lime to a 'depth of about four inches. 

 The solution is made by adding one or two pounds of chloride of 

 lime to two buckets of rain-water. If the trough is placed at the 

 entrance to the sheepfold, the sheep will be compelled to traverse 

 it at least twice a day. It is also recommended, when diseased 

 sheep are treated by this plan, that after recovery, all manure 

 in the fold should be removed and destroyed, and the soil dug up 

 to the depth of six inches, or lime freely spread over the surface. 

 Troughs and hurdles must be thoroughly disinfected, and buildings 

 freely ventilated after similar treatment. No locality can be con- 

 sidered free from suspicion until one or two months have elapsed 

 since the recovery of the last case. 



