Lamenesses of Sheep and Lambs. 
395 
The chronic indurations described mUst be distinguished 
from swellings of bursac, which result from over-exertion or 
strain of the ligaments or tendons with which the bursae are 
connected. These are sometimes seen about the hock or knee, 
are elastic, yet tense and firm, have distinct circumscribed 
margins, and, unlike tumours in the cellular tissue, cannot be 
moved about. They are not incorporated with the skin, which 
is separated from them by cellular tissue, and quite free from 
thickening. They contain synovia, a glairy albuminous fluid, 
admirably adapted for the important office of lubricating tendons 
and ligaments, and enabling the locomotive machinery to act 
with the least possible friction. This oily fluid is secreted 
by the vascular lining membrane of these cavities, and is poured 
out in large quantity wherever the parts are exposed to undue 
action, or are subjected to injury or strain. These swellings 
cannot be treated in the same manner as those above described. 
They cannot be laid open without producing much inflammation. 
While hot and painful they should be enveloped in cloths 
constantly wetted with ice-cold water. When they become hard, 
tense, and painless they should be stimulated with a mustard 
embrocation, with spirit of turpentine, or tincture of cantharides. 
In inveterate cases the firing iron may be used, as it is in similar 
cases amongst horses. Strains of all kinds require very similar 
treatment, namely, cold water at first to abate the inflammation, 
and subsequently stimulants to accelerate the absorption of the 
effused products. 
Diseases of the feet. — In the sheep disease of the feet, whatever 
its nature, symptoms, or causes, has been long recognised under 
the vague generic title of " foot-rot." Yet without technical 
nicety or undue subdivision, we discover, under that general 
term, several distinct diseases. They have usually a separate 
and independent existence ; they differ from each other in nature ; 
they affect different parts of the foot. They may be described as 
follows : — 
Simple laceration and cracking of the horn. 
Chronic ulcerative inflammation of the sensitive lamina?, to 
■which alone the term foot-rot should properly be restricted. 
Rheumatic inflammation of the feet and digital joints, analo- 
gous to the bustian foul of cattle, and distinctively styled rheu- 
matic foot-rot. 
Inflammation of the interdigital skin and adjacent sebaceous 
glands, sometimes termed "scalding." 
Specific inflammation of the interdigital skin, prevailing as an 
epizootic, affecting all cloven-footed animals, accorajianied by the 
formation of vesicles between the hoofs, in the mouth, and 
