20 



Management of Sheep. 



minor affections, but it is highly requisite to notice those which 

 come more closely under our daily practice, such as the foot-rot, 

 (or foot-halt) diarrhoea, dysentery, scab, rot, sturdy, blind, red- 

 water, sore heads, and fly-galls. 



The Foot-rot is a disease most common on old grass-land or 

 marshy situations, and most prevalent in wet seasons : it clearly 

 shows that an extra degree of moisture is injurious to the hoof, 

 and that, by being softened or relaxed beyond the habit of the 

 animal, a fretful disposition is produced. It commences between 

 the claws, and ultimately forms a matter which spreads itself so 

 rapidly that, if allowed its course and not checked, it completely 

 undermines the hoof, and occasionally throws it off. So soon as 

 the disease makes its appearance in a lot of sheep, they should be 

 immediately had up and placed under cover, the shed being well 

 littered, to clean their feet ; the whole of their feet should then 

 be examined, observing to rub in a small portion of the halt 

 ointment (afterwards named) between their claws, to dry up the 

 accumulating matter, or to act as a preventive with the sound 

 feet. They should remain in the shed until the following morn- 

 ing, and then be placed in a short pasture, or upon stubble-ground. 

 If the disease be found to have advanced, the hoof should be 

 carefully removed to the bottom of the disease, as the dressing 

 will cure just so far as it is applied. In fact, if one single par- 

 ticle of the matter remain untouched, it will continue its ravages — 

 hence arises the apparent difficulty in staying its progress. 



When the foot has become much diseased from neglect, it 

 should be placed in an oil-cake poultice for 12 hours; then 

 washed clean with warm water, and the poultice renewed again 

 12 hours more; then to be again washed, and the diseased parts 

 probed to the bottom and dressed ; then to be tied up in common 

 tar for 24 hours, and renewed when necessary, again applying 

 the ointment. Opening medicine will materially assist in the 

 cure of obstinate cases. The worst subjects should be regularly 

 removed from the general flock as they occur, the disease being 

 certainly infectious ; it is, besides, more convenient for dressing 

 and shutting them up — a course that is highly essential, in order 

 that the feet may be kept clean and dry for a time after the 

 ointment has been applied, which I have found invaluable both 

 in staying its progress and curing the disease. 



The Halt Receipt. 



\ oz. corrosive sublimate, 1 oz. blue vitriol, 1 oz. spirits of salts, 

 1 oz. verdigris, 1 oz. horse turpentine, 1 oz. oil of vitriol, f oz. spirits 

 of turpentine, and 4 oz. sheep ointment. 



[To be well mixed when prepared, and kept tied down when not in use.] 

 Diarrhoea is most known amongst lambs after weaning, when 



