82 DISEASES OP SHEEP. 



Formerly very erroneous views prevailed concerning the 

 causes and true ^at of the foot rot, and it was reserved for 

 the present time to shed more light on the subject. Some 

 believed a worm to be the cause, which took up its abode in 

 the bag or gland of the hoof. This error was caused in the 

 following way : In the upper, anterior portion of the cleft 

 there is an orifice leading to a tube closed at one end, which 

 is formed by a convolution of the external skin. The inner 

 surface is without hair and is covered with glands, secreting 

 a tallow-like substance, which collects there in masses. If 

 this tube or bag is pressed with the fingers, the above sub- 

 stance is squeezed out, and naturally assumes a curved shape, 

 which was erroneously considered as a worm and as the 

 cause of the epidemic. It is true that the bag may become 

 inflamed, and produce a malady of the hoof, but it will 

 never cause the malignant distemper of the foot. The in- 

 flammation of the cleft, which sometimes occurs, must not 

 be. confounded with the epidemic, because it is not Conta- 

 gious and does not attack the horny capsule. In order to 

 avoid mistakes, the breeder should distinguish between the 

 mild and the malignant forms. For this reason I will 

 enumerate the essential symptoms : 



Malignant Foot Rot. — 1. At first, secretion of an 

 acrid, very offensive liquid over the inner suture, without 

 much swelling. 



2. Formation of a briny liquid in the hoof; the hoof 

 becomes deformed and falls off; the tendons, ligaments and 

 bones are attacked. 



3. Lameness after ten or fourteen days, when the sheep 

 will slide along on its knees and belly. 



4. There is no fever ; the disease is very slow, attacks at 

 first only one claw, then spreading over several, and con- 

 tinuing for months. 



6. It is always caused by contagion, spreads very slowly 



