ON THE FOOT-llOT IN SHEEP. 
301 
and beautiful organism of the foot. The debilitating effect of 
metallic contact is known and well appreciated by the human phy- 
sician. 
It may be used either in the form of a plain sheet, of the thick- 
ness of leather, or increased in substance over the heels and frog. 
Sometimes I have employed it as an adjunct with leather, but 
more frequently as a substitute for it. 
Of the different sorts or varieties of caoutchouc, I found the 
South American the best suited to my purpose ; the species pro- 
cured from the urecola elastica, and brought from the East India 
islands, being too hard and inelastic. 
Water of the ordinary temperature has no action on this sub- 
stance. I conceive that much precaution in the useful application of 
it is only necessary in frosty weather, when, from the slight contrac- 
tive effect of excessive cold upon it, it may be useful to plunge the 
lower surfaces of the feet into tepid water before going out, which 
restores its natural elasticity. 
If it should be thought worthy of trial by my professional 
brethren, any suggestions as to the further perfecting this applica- 
tion, through the medium of your periodical, or otherwise, will be 
kindly acknowledged. 
ON THE FOOT-ROT IN SHEEP. 
By Mr. T. Lees, Southshore , Blackpool. 
Sir, — O n reading your valuable work on the diseases and ma- 
nagement of sheep, I was very much surprised at the different 
opinions stated as to the cause and contagiousness of sheep-rot. 
Of the cause, so far as the pasture is concerned, I will give you a 
history as it regards one flock. I could scarcely have thought it 
possible that any one accustomed to sheep should have doubted its 
contagiousness. The story which I am about to tell bears, per- 
haps, on both points. 
I was shepherd six years where the flock was sadly afflicted 
with this dreadful disease. It was a large farm in Herefordshire, 
on the borders of Radnorshire and Shropshire, and the flock con- 
sisted of between 600 and 700 half-bred sheep between the South- 
down and New Leicester. In one large pasture is a considerable 
plantation on the top of a sloping hill facing the sun. The pasture 
itself is as sound a turf as any in the world, an unsound sheep never 
having been known on the farm. When the trees were first set, 
the plantation was fenced in from the field ; but, seven years ago, 
