FOOT ROT. 209 



both as to surface and depth, involving the deeper structures of 

 the foot. Foot and mouth disease begins in an inflammation of 

 the skin just above the hoofs. This becomes red, then small vesi- 

 cles develop which rupture and then dry. Foot rot is a disease 

 especially of horn tissue. In foot and mouth disease the whole 

 hoof may loosen at the crown, the inflammation involving espe- 

 cially the skin at the crown and the sensitive parts under the wall 

 and above the sole. In foot rot the horn is diseased and separates 

 in pieces. Foot and mouth disease affects several feet and per- 

 haps the mouth also — simultaneously. Foot rot usually affects 

 one foot at first and there is little or no fever in common cases, 

 whereas, in foot and mouth disease the fever is characteristic. 



Simple foot rot. — Causes: This is a disease of the horny 

 parts, often due to overgrowth or injury, either one of which may 

 result in a laminitis, and so result seriously for the foot. Similar 

 conditions may account for the development of a considerable 

 number of cases, but this disease does not spread from one animal 

 to another as does the infectious type. Some cases are apparent- 

 ly due to the chaffing action of rough, wet and coarse grasses be- 

 tween the claws. This may be very serious in a few cases, but 

 is not a disease of general importance. [Moisture seems to bear 

 an important relation to the development of this type of the disease. 



Treatment. — Clean thoroughly between the toes; pare away 

 all diseased horn and remove the loosened pieces. The hoof, if 

 grown out of shape, must be trimmed to normal proportion. Ex- 

 cessive granulations must be cut away or removed by actual 

 cautery, and be repressed by astringent measures or pressure band- 

 ages. Pledgets of tow may be dipped in tar and applied over 

 the granulations so as to bring pressure at the right point. These 

 patients should be kept upon clean, dry footing, and serious cases 

 should be taken up and kept in the yard or in dry stable. For 

 astringent dressing we may use tincture of iron, varying from 

 full strength to one to four, dissolved in water. Four per cent 

 carbolized tar makes a nice application for cleansing and disin- 

 fecting, and keeps out dirt. The medical treatment, particularly 

 the astringent, should be very carefully applied, especially into the 

 crevices and deeper recesses. 



Treating whole flock. — It is frequently advisable to treat a 

 whole flock in a general way ; in that case the flock may Lie driven 

 through a large pan containing a solution of copper sulphate about 



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