278 
Gontagimis Foot-rot in Sheep. 
which is the entrance to a crack which passes into the foot, as 
shown in Fig. 2. 
tK « Inflammation and exudation, and, in short, the characteristic 
results of the inflammatory process naturally follow the introduc- 
tion of gritty particles into the interior of the horny box. This 
form of foot-rot may be classed with the several diseases of the 
foot due to injury from the constituents of the soil, thorns, 
broken glass, nails, and 
generally to any agencies 
which interfere with the 
integrity of the structure 
of the hoof, and thus ex- 
pose the internal tissue to 
injury. Neither of these 
affections is in any sense 
contagious, and all of 
them may for the pre- 
sent purpose be excluded 
from consideration as not 
coming within the deflni- 
tion of contagious foot- 
a rot, which is the subject 
of this paper. 
Contagious Foot-rot. 
At the outset, foot-rot 
can be distinguished from 
all forms of foot disease 
of the sheep with ease 
and certainty, and the 
practical man searching 
for signs of the affection 
looks at the skin between 
FlO. 3— Foot of sheep sUo\ving early stage of disease -t-l.t, Rnrifa tinrl cooinrr a 
affecting the skin between the claws. . nOOIS, ana Seeing a 
little moisture or white 
discharge with very minute pimples covering the skin, is aware 
that the disease exists. In Fig. 3 this condition is shown as well as 
it is possible to indicate it by the aid of the pencil. Daily obser- 
vation will prove that the disease of the skin sometimes advances 
rapidly and assumes a very marked character, the whole surface 
becoming covered with elongated warty growths, as seen in 
Fig. 4. In most instances the inflammation extends to the 
inner side of the internal structures of one claw, and the hoof 
becomes disconnected from its membrane, which is covered with 
