1905.] Foot-Rot in Sheep. 43 



a 5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid. An antiseptic astringent 

 powder, consisting of 4 parts of carbolic acid, 2 parts of tannic 

 acid, and 94 parts of dried alum, is then dusted upon the 

 ulcerated surfaces, and a bandage applied to afford the parts 

 the desired amount of protection. 



In this connection it may be useful to reproduce here the 

 directions which have been issued for the use of the foot-bath 

 in the experiments which are being conducted by the Board 

 of Agriculture in this country. They are as follows : — 



The bath supplied is of wood 16 ft. long and 1 ft. wide. It 

 should be put down dead level in such a position that the sheep 

 can be easily guided into it. At first they may be a little averse 

 to enter, but later they usually pass through quite freely. The 

 narrow run in which the bath is placed should be wide enough 

 to allow sheep to walk freely through. A width at 2 ft. from 

 the ground of 18 in. will be found sufficient even for in-lamb 

 ewes. Hurdles or a pale-fence should be erected along the 

 sides of the bath, sloping outwards somewhat so as to give 

 the necessary room. If the sides are close-boarded the sheep 

 pass through the bath more freely. 



Various substances are used for preparing the solution with 

 which the bath is filled, but probably none is more effective 

 or convenient than copper sulphate. The usual strength is 

 1 lb. dissolved in 2 gallons of cold water, but in the case of 

 sheep badly affected double this strength may be employed. 

 The solution should stand about 1 to ij in. in depth. Five 

 pounds of copper sulphate in 10 gallons of water will give the 

 necessary depth to start with. As the solution is strongly 

 poisonous great care must be taken to prevent stock drink- 

 ing it. 



This treatment of foot-rot is chiefly valuable as a preventive, 

 and the bath should be brought into use before many of the 

 flock are visibly affected. As a rule treatment once a month 

 is sufficient as a preventive, but animals badly affected should 

 be kept apart from the others and be treated more frequently. 

 In ordinary cases it is not necessary to dress the hoof with 

 the knife, but if the feet are badly affected they should be 

 pared and afterwards dressed with a paste prepared by mixing 

 equal parts of copper sulphate and Stockholm tar, or by 



