86 DISEASES OP SHEEP, 



be driven through water or dry straw. They are then 

 turned out to pasture, which must be as dry as possible, rich 

 in grass and not too distant. They should have a separate 

 shepherd, who does not come in contact with the sick ani- 

 mals. If possible they should be kept in the open air, far 

 enough away from the others. The flock should be in- 

 spected every third day, and if a sick sheep is found it 

 should be immediately put with the other patients. If the 

 sheep must be kept in the stable, as in winter or in bad 

 weather, an inspection should also take place every three 

 days, and new patients remqved. The chaff, etc., on the 

 stable floor should also be renewed. If the trouble is not 

 considered too great, the above foot-bath may be repeated 

 every week if there are new cases of the disease. 



The sick sheep are treated as follows: It is important to 

 remove immediately all separated and loose horn with a 

 narrow, sharp knife ; for it is evident that the remedy, 

 which is to destroy the virus and cure the disease, cannot 

 act as long as the suppurating surfaces are covered. This 

 cutting is therefore the principal thing, and the success of 

 the treatment depends on the complete and proper perform- 

 ance of the operation. The bad repute into which some 

 remedies have fallen is due in a great measure to the 

 method of their application. It is almost unimportant of 

 what the remedy consists, and it might be composed simply 

 of vinegar or salt and water. 



The operator sits down on a bundle of straw, after an 

 assistant has turned the sheep on its back, and opens the 

 cleft of the hoof. He then begins at the suture and cuts 

 out all horn which has separated from the foot and is suf- 

 fused with master. The inner sides of the horny capsule 

 deserve special attention, as do also the parts where the 

 horn appears whiter and softer than on the other parts of 

 the hoof. The knife must be freely used, and all loose horn 



