8 
On Lameness in Sheep and Lambs. 
contagious nature of foot-rot, says that it occasionally spreads to 
the pigs, the dogs, and even poultry. I have never known an 
instance of the epizootic foot-rot, of which we have just been 
treating, to be communicated to the omnivorous, carnivorous, or 
to the granivorous species : probably our foreign author con- 
founded it with the following: disease. 
III. Vesicular epizootic, or the Foot and Moutli Disease. — 
This affection is highly contagious ; when once produced it will 
spread rapidly through a whole flock, and may be communicated 
to animals of a different species, such as the ox, pig, and dog, 
and also to the fowl. It is ushered in by fever ; the sheep 
becomes extremely lame, it walks upon its heels, there is much 
tenderness upon the coronet ; in two or three days the hoof, 
round the entire foot, begins to separate, and blisters have formed 
at the union of the hair and hoof and between the toes. The 
duration of this disease, if proper remedies are applied, is from 
seven to fourteen days. 
Treatment. — Freely purge the sheep with salts and sulphur ; 
keep them quiet, their feet clean, and recovery will take place in 
about a week. Should any part of the hoof be separated, it may 
be removed, and the foot dressed with the vitriolic lotion, as 
recommended in the epizootic foot-rot. 
IV. Injiammation of the Interdigital Canal. — Inflammation of 
this canal is of frequent occurrence, and is accompanied by 
extreme lameness ; the parts between the toes, the coronet, and 
fetlock are much swollen, accompanied with great heat and ten- 
derness ; the siieep does not feed, and loses flesh fast. The most 
frequent cause of this disease is a collection of sand or gravel 
that insinuates itself down the canal, or it is sometimes punc- 
tured by thorns, or other sharp bodies, which will produce the 
same effects. 
Treatment. — Wash the foot clean with soap and water ; exa- 
mine the canal, and remove, Avith a small probe or knitting- 
needle, any foreign body that may have lodged therein ; then 
bandage the leg and foot with calico, moistened with equal parts 
of vinegar and water, and renew the dressing twice a day for 
three or four days. After this the parts may be smeared with 
common sheep-ointment twice a week, still continuing the 
bandage, 
V. Subcutaneous Abscess, or Whitlow. — Abscesses occasionally 
form in the cellular tissue, immediately above the hoof, and produce 
appearances precisely similar to those of whitlow on the finger 
of the human subject ; hence, the same designation ma>^ with 
propriety be adopted. This disease, so common among neat- 
stock, but seldom attacks sheep ; however, it does sometimes 
occur in these animals. It commences with all the ordinary 
