374 On the Breeding, Feeding, Sj-c. of Sheep. 
two or three hours, ahhough I have tried many of what are 
called preventatives. Some persons are of opinion that the wool 
from the sheep never weighs better than if taken off in April, as 
soon as they leave the turnip-field ; but I cannot see how this can 
be proved, as no experiment, I think, can reach it. There does 
not appear to me to be any advantage in keeping the ewe-flock in 
their wool longer in the season than the beginning of May ; if 
they are shorn yearly at this time there is still a twelvemonth's 
wool upon them ; if the wool is left upon them until the hot wea- 
ther they often lose much of it from their necks and underneath, 
whilst some will peel entirely. 
It is not my intention to treat upon the diseases of sheep gene- 
rally, neither to offer any remedies (save one or two), for this 
simple reason, that I know of no other specifics that I can confi- 
dently recommend ; therefore I consider it much better to sup - 
press them. It is unfortunately true that sheep are not often 
found to be ill until the disease has taken too deep a root to be 
eradicated. Various are the remedies for the very prevalent dis- 
ease the foot-halt. I have tried verdigris, butyr of antimony, 
vitriol, and other caustics, with success ; but what will effect a 
cure in one sheep, in a dressing or two, will not always do so in 
others ; when that is the case, I would recommend another of the 
specifics described to be applied, which will, if properly attended 
to, remove the complaint in a few days, in most cases. Shepherds 
generally are afraid to probe the part affected deep enough, which 
ought always to be done. Whenever a sheep falls lame in a 
flock it should immediately be taken from the others, or more 
will fall, as there can be no doubt but the foot-halt is contagious. 
With respect to the recent epidemic, I am persuaded that it 
also is contagious, which I had sufficient proof of last season. 
My rams were perfectly healthy until June, when I took two of 
them to a certain agricultural show to compete for prizes. One 
of the competitors showed a sheep in the same class with one of 
mine, labouring at the time with the disease in question. With 
my ram it was turned out of the pen by the judges for their inspec- 
tion, and both were some time together ; the consequence was, 
that in about three days after mine got home he fell ill with the 
complaint ; all my other sheep being quite free from it that 
were at pasture in the same field ; indeed none of the sheep on 
the farm had it. In a day or two afterwards another in the same 
lot fell ill, and in the course of a few days about half the lot be- 
came more or less affected. About six weeks after this I had my 
regular show for letting rams, and had then nearly got rid of the 
disease, having only one sheep lame with it, for I always took one 
away from the others as soon as I perceived that it liad got the 
disease. It being necessary at this time to put my sheep toge- 
