Diseases of Sheep. 



321 



There is in the foot of the sheep a small aperture called the 

 biflex canal, placed just above the division of the pastern. It se- 

 cretes a mucous fluid for the protection of the joint, and as this 

 secretion is sometimes perhaps by a little inflammatory action 

 carried to excess — whether it is of an acrid character or not I 

 cannot say — it has a tendency to produce ulceration of the sur- 

 rounding parts that occasionally proceeds to mischievous extent. 

 This complaint is very different from the foot-rot, although gene- 

 rally classed with it, as the foot itself remains perfectly sound, the 

 ulcers being confined to the parts above the hoof. Strong caustic 

 applications are frequently all that are necessary towards effecting 

 a cure. The ointment recommended for the foot- rot is very ser- 

 viceable, as also butyr (or, as it is commonly called^ butter) of 

 antimony."^ I have sometimes found it necessary to poultice the 

 sores ; for this purpose one of linseed-meal is a good application. 



Thorns when allowed to remain in the foot will cause matter to 

 form and produce considerable inflammation. The hoof must be 

 pared away to allow a free discharge, and a plaster of Venice tur- 

 pentine applied as recommended for foot-rot. 



Wounds in sheep are not very frequent, unless from the bite of 

 dogs, or lacerations or punctures of the legs. Where the wound 

 arises from a blow, a fracture of the limb often follows. In this 

 case the bone must be carefully replaced, so that the two ends at 

 the point of separation may be carefully set in their natural posi- 

 tion ; and they must be retained in that position by splints and 

 bandaging for about a fortnight. If the fractured bone protrudes 

 through the skin, the superficial wound must be enlarged by the 

 knife so as to restore the bone to its proper place, and splints 

 must be applied as in a simple fracture ; but the cure in this case 

 is likely to be so tedious as to make it more expedient to kill the 

 sheep at once. Should the bandage occasion a sv/elling of the 

 limb before it is safe to remove it, it may be eased by dividing 

 it at the edges with a pair of scissors, without untying it. All 

 simple wounds are to be treated in the same way as in the human 

 subject, and Nature has given to animals a facility of healing 

 which is too often denied to man. If the wound is extensive, a 

 suture should be applied, always being careful to bring the opposite 

 lips as closely together as possible, and having previously washed 



* The butyr, or chloride of antimony, a sufficiently powerful superficial 

 caustic, and, except inordinately used, being incapable, from its peculiar 

 affinities, of producing any deeply-seated mischief, is beyond all comparison 

 the best general application for foot-rot. — W. Youatt. 



I have found the ointment equal, if not superior, to the Butyr of Anti- 

 mony, from an extensive practical trial of both, and a box of ointment is 

 infinitely preferable to carry in one's pocket to a phial bottle of caustic. — 

 The Author. 



