1908.] 



Foot-Rot of Sheep. 



265 



In cases associated with much pain, and where three or four 

 feet are affected, the animals refuse to feed, rapidly lose flesh, 

 and may develop diarrhoea. Such animals become extremely 

 weak. They present a dejected and emaciated appearance, 

 and they may die. The various stages of the disease can be 

 seen in one flock. Granulating tissue or proud flesh and 

 new horn-like tissue may grow out from the wounded surfaces. 

 In the early stages of the disease the hoof itself appears normal, 

 but as the condition advances the horn becomes broken and 

 decayed, and if the feet have not been attended to, the whole 

 toe may be cast. During the hot weather the condition is 

 aggravated, and deaths are more numerous from the fact that 

 the foetid discharge attracts flies, and maggots subsequently 

 develop in the wounds. The animal may become fly-blown 

 on every part of the fleece which has come in contact with the 

 discharges, and under such conditions it soon succumbs. 



Prevention. — It has been said that a shepherd has no right 

 to have foot-rot among his flock. Providing ordinary care 

 is observed the disease should not at least get beyond control. 

 Although the best means to prevent the introduction of the 

 disease is to avoid bringing suspected sheep on to clean pastures, 

 it is not one which can always be carried out. Attention must 

 especially be directed to fresh arrivals. In the first place it 

 is necessary to examine any sheep which may fall lame, and 

 any sheep which are not lame but are noticed to show wounds 

 or sores around the hoof or over-grown horn. 



1. Periodic inspection, examination and trimming of over- 

 grown feet is a practice to be recommended, and upon the 

 slightest indication of disease affecting the skin between the 

 toes, the affected sheep should be isolated and treated, and 

 the remainder put through a bath containing one of the pre- 

 parations given below as cures for foot-rot. 



2. In the case of sheep bought in a market or taken to a 

 market and brought back, or any fresh arrivals, they should 

 whenever possible be isolated and the feet of each sheep 

 examined. Isolation should be continued from three to four 

 weeks, as disease might appear after an interval of two or three 

 weeks, although the sheep appeared apparently free from 

 disease at the time of arrival ; or as a precautionary measure 

 after examination the sheep should be put through one of the 



