1904.] 



Foot-Rot Experiments. 



55.5 



for their egg laying. Hence it is that sheep suffering from 

 diarrhoea fall such easy prey to the fly. 



2. The burying or burning of all carcases of dead animals, 

 including birds, so that these may not serve as breeding places 

 for the fly. 



3. Dipping. As a preventive measure dipping is useful, but 

 immunity does not last for very long, hence the dipping must 

 be repeated. Sulphur is a useful ingredient in any such treat- 

 ment, the odour keeping away the fly. 



4. Dressing the neighbourhood of wounds with some deterrent 

 dressing, e.g., an ointment of butter and flowers of sulphur ; or 

 spirits of tar. 



5. As a remedial measure the infested sheep should be 

 isolated. 



6. The maggots are not difficult to kill. Where seen they 

 should be picked off, or where they have got to work let the 

 wool be shorn a little and the parts dressed with turpentine and 

 rape oil in equal parts, or carbolic acid or benzine may be 

 sprayed over the places. 



At various times during past years the Board of Agriculture 



have had their attention directed to the loss and inconvenience 



caused to flockmasters by foot-rot in sheep. 



Foot-Rot Careful individual treatment of the hoof 



Experiments. t . , . , • . 



has long been recognised as the surest 



way to effect a cure, but where a large number of animals have 

 to be dressed much time and labour are involved, and the due 

 performance of the operation is apt to be neglected. Of recent 

 years attention has been directed to the advantages of treatment 

 by means of a foot-bath, into which a suitable solution is placed, 

 and through which the sheep are walked. In order thoroughly to 

 test this method of treatment the Board have obtained a 

 number of baths and a supply of copper sulphate (bluestone), 

 and these have been placed on selected farms in various parts 

 of Great Britain where the disease is prevalent. It is hoped 

 that in this way definite information of service to sheep-farmers 

 will be obtained. 



