336  Annual  Report  for  1909  of  Royal  Veterinary  College. 
days  after  the  disease  had  made  its  appearance  on  the  lips, 
the  onset  being  usually  sudden  and  the  lameness  intense. 
Examination  at  this  stage  showed  swelling  and  tenderness  of 
the  coronet,  and  signs  of  inflammation  or  actual  suppuration 
between  the  claws.  The  foot  infection  appeared  to  have  had 
its  starting  point  in  connection  with  the  thin  skin  between 
the  claws,  and  when  suppuration  occurred  the  abscess  formed 
in  the  so-called  inter-ungulate  gland.  Recovery  generally  took 
place,  but  in  a few  cases  the  inflammation  and  suppuration 
spread  to  the  joints  of  the  foot,  and  the  animal  had  to  be 
destroyed. 
« It  is  not  easy  to  say  why  in  this  outbreak  there  were  so 
many  severe  foot  cases,  though  there  is  no  douht  that  in 
all  such  cases  the  primary  lesions  are  those  about  the  mouth, 
and  that  the  feet  become  infected  through  being  brought  into 
contact  with  the  sores  on  the  lips. 
Recovery  from  an  attack  of  this  disease  leaves  the  animal 
immune  for  an  undetermined  period  afterwards.  The  im- 
munity appears  to  be  acquired  before  the  lesions  have  actually 
healed,  and  this  is  the  probable  explanation  of  the  fact  that 
when  a pregnant  ewe  has  an  attack  and  immediately 
afterwards  drops  her  lamb,  the  latter  may  contract  the  disease 
without  causing  any  infection  of  the  teats  or.  udder. 
Treatment  of  the  sores  is  not  very  satisfactory,  and  it  is 
probably  best  not  to  attempt  it  in  the  case  of  those  about  the 
mouth,  as  they  heal  naturally.  The  most  serious  lesions  are 
those  which  form  on  the  teats,  for,  although  these  also  tend  to 
heal  naturally,  recovery  is  much  delayed  by  the  mechanical 
irritation  of  the  lamb’s  mouth  in  sucking.  Cleanliness  and 
a free  use  of  boracic  ointment  is  probably  the  best  treatment 
for  these.  When  the  disease  attacks  the  foot  the  latter  should 
be  kept  as  clean  as  possible,  which  is  best  secured  by  removing 
the  animal  to  a grass  field  when  practicable.  If  a definite 
abscess  has  formed  between  the  claws  it  ought  to  be  lanced  and 
the  matter  pressed  out,  the  foot  being  afterwards  immersed  in 
a dilute  solution  of  carbolic  acid  or  other  disinfectant. 
Here,  as  in  all  other  cases,  prevention  is  better  than  cure. 
No  extensive  outbi-eak  can  ever  occur  except  through  the 
neglect  of  precautions,  for  which  the  necessity  is  obvious  as 
soon  as  it  is  recognised  that  the  disease  is  a contagious  one. 
Shepherds  should  be  enjoined  to  keep  a sharp  look-out  for 
evidence  of  the  disease  before  or  during  the  lambing  season, 
and  even  suspicious  cases  ought  to  be  promptly  removed  from 
the  flock.  If  any  treatment  is  attempted  it  ought  to  be 
entrusted  to  some  other  person  than  the  shepherd,  for  other- 
wise the  hands  of  the  latter  may  be  a source  of  infection 
among  the  young  lambs.  Lastly,  it  ought  to  be  remembered 
