738 
Foot-rot in Sheep. 
correct, that foot-rot cannot be developed unless by contact 
with affected sheep or their lair, and if full advantage were 
taken of this circumstance, the benefit to individuals and to the 
country generally would be immense. 
A good deal of money is expended annually in trying to 
stamp out certain diseases to which farm stock are liable, but 
which are only local, and affect comparatively few individuals. 
Foot-rot is universal, and concerns almost every man who owns 
a score of sheep. 
If it should be found that there are circumstances under 
which foot-rot can be produced, or will come of itself, indepen- 
dent of contact with affected sheep or their lair (a proposition I 
do not admit for a moment), surely these circumstances might 
generally be avoided. But even if not, and we are obliged to 
have foot-rot raging in" certain districts, it need not be all over 
the country as at present. Or, why should my sheep remain 
free for years together, while the sheep of everyone else in the 
district, without exception, whether they buy or only breed, 
are continually suffering, notwithstanding that the sheep are of 
the same breed, are similarly managed, and are subject to the 
same conditions of soil and climate ? Why should I generally 
get foot-rot, immediately after purchasing one of these sheep 
from the outside, amongst that portion of the flock to which he 
is introduced ? 
Why, moreover, does it not extend any further amongst my 
animals, if the single strange sheep did not bring it ? 
Until I can get satisfactory answers to these questions I 
must adhere to my opinion, although it is in direct opposition to 
that of thousands of farmers, including most of my friends and 
neighbours. I hope they may be all wrong, for their own sakes, 
for the country's sake, and for the sake of the sheep, and that I 
am right. If my belief be correct that foot-rot is contagious, 
and arises in no other way, it is a pity that the truth should be 
any longer hidden away. 
In conclusion, I would say that foot-rot must not be held 
responsible for all lamenesses to which sheep are liable. If I 
might be allowed to speculate, I would say that I consider the 
true disease is quite independent of all circumstances of soil, 
climate, food, and water, or of structural differences in the animals, 
and that it requires the presence of a living organism, without 
which the disease is impossible. 
2. Mr. W. J. Maiden. 
I have had experience with sheep in two districts which 
differ greatly as regards the effect of the land on foot-rot, although 
