264 



Foot-Rot of Sheep. 



[JULY, 



condition of the ewes. In such instances the disease persists 

 until the lambing season commences, and often spreads 

 rapidly to the new-born lambs. 



Apart from the adverse influence that wet seasons and damp 

 low-lying pastures may have upon the horny structures of the 

 feet, grit and dirt may work their way into the cleft of the foot 

 and produce a wound. If the soil is contaminated with the 

 virus that produces foot-rot, the disease will soon appear among 

 the flock. It may, however, attack sheep with apparently firm 

 horn and well trimmed feet. 



Symptoms. — Lameness is usually the first symptom observed, 

 and on examination of the affected foot a small, moist, un- 

 healthy-looking, spot-like sore, will probably be found between 

 the toes. The part is inflamed, hot and tender, and the animal 

 shows signs of pain when it is manipulated. There is 

 little or no appreciable swelling of the coronet at this stage. 

 The disease rapidly extends under the horny box, and if a little 

 pressure be brought to bear on the inside of the foot a slight 

 dirty foetid discharge will be observed oozing from the edge of 

 the horn around the ulcerated spot. The discharge is never 

 very great, but is always foul smelling ; in fact the foetid smell 

 k often detected before any gross lesions have been discovered. 



The disease progresses from above downwards, between the 

 sensitive structures of the horn and the hoof. When the horn 

 is pared away the diseased parts are found bathed in the 

 foetid discharge, and the greater portion of the foot may be 

 implicated. In some cases the disease extends from the primary 

 seat of the disease to the more important tissues of the foot, 

 injuring the ligaments, tendons, and even the bones. 



In protracted or severe cases the foot may be greatly swollen, 

 very tender, and hot. The upper part of the toe is widely 

 separated and the points turn inward, giving the appearance 

 of a club. The animal is in great pain when weight is 

 placed on the affected limb. Abscesses form in the soft tissues 

 of the foot and burst outwardly around the coronet, leaving 

 angry discharging wounds. At the start one foot is usually 

 affected, but frequently the disease appears in two, three, or 

 may be all four feet. In the latter case the animals are unable 

 to move about in search of food. They may be seen feeding 

 on their knees, or lying down feeding on the grass around them. 



