io6 Veterinary Medicine. 



concentrated. These new growths are centres of microbian 

 growth and permeated by fistulse which discharge the infecting 

 morbid product. 



The sheep, no longer simply lame, now moves on three legs, or 

 if the fore feet are affected walks on its knees seeking its food, 

 for appetite is preserved, or it lies down most of the time. 



The feet are not worn and, having an extra blood supply at 

 the coronet they grow with increased rapidity, curling into a 

 spiral, so that the wear would come on the outer wall which 

 presses inward and upward on the sole. 



A case may progress for months, the infection being in the 

 main local, and the digestive and other functions being maintained 

 for a length of time. The animal however becomes gradually 

 emaciated, and with the increasing debility there is a greater 

 liability to a general infection either by this or by some other 

 pathogenic microbe. The existing sores during the summer and 

 autumn strongly attract flies, and life may be quickly cut short 

 by the attacks of the larvae. 



Apart from such conditions recoveries may take place sponta- 

 neously, but usually with permanent distortions of the hoofs, fibroid 

 growths between the claws, thickening and stiffening of the ten- 

 dons, or anchylosis of the digital joints. The result depends 

 mainly on the care of the affected sheep. If allowed to wade 

 through mud, or liquid manure, or to stand on hot fermenting 

 manure the infecting and ammoniacal and other products deter- 

 mine steady aggravation, whereas if the feet are kept clean and 

 dry, and properly dressed and medicated from the first a prompt 

 and satisfactory recovery may be counted on. 



Prevention. As in all injurious infections, eradication and 

 exclusion are the important considerations. To secure exclusion 

 newly acquired sheep should be certified by an official guarantee 

 that they come from a locality free from foot-rot, and where this 

 affection has not existed for years. The purchaser must himself 

 see to other precautions. See that they have not been travelled 

 over ground or roads that have been used by infected or un- 

 known sheep, that they have not passed through public stock- 

 yards, nor premises, nor over nor through undisinfected loading 

 banks or chutes, nor have been conveyed in any undisinfected car, 

 ship, boat, or vehicle that has been used for conveying other 



