804 
skin, causing it to become foul and to remain wet for sometime after a 
drenching rain. Thus the spot becomes adapted for the purposes of the 
fly. which thereupon makes it the repository of its eggs. 
3d. When tagging the sheep is neglected, at time of turning them to 
grass, the filthiness that accumulates around the tail becomes such a 
source of irritation that some abrasion of the skin at length results 
from it and the sore is speedily discovered by the fly and appropriated to 
its use. So sure is this to take place among some of the flock that we 
have no sheep owners that I am aware of who neglect this most impor¬ 
tant operation. 
4th. Maggots are an invariable sequel and the common cause of 
death in the foot-rot, as will be more particularly related under that dis¬ 
ease. 
In fine, whatever produces any sore from which moisture exudes is 
liable to result in this affection. Nay, one instance is related in which 
it was supposed to have originated without any abrasion of the skin. 
Some years since, Ebenezer McAllister, late of Salem, discovered that 
a number of his flock were infested with maggots. It was in the latter 
part of the season, just after a protracted period of rainy weather, and 
as the sheep had all been sound to appearance, it was supposed that the 
wool in consequence of having been so long wet, had become adapted 
for receiving the fly-blows. At all events there could only have been 
one or two of the sheep with slight and unobserved wounds in which 
these eggs were deposited in the first instance and the fleeces of the 
others being saturated with moisture the maggots freely crawled from 
one sheep to another when they were lying or standing in contact, so 
as to become extensively spread through the flock. 
With regard to the treatment of this affection a few words will suffice. 
Removing the wool from around the ulcerated surface so that it shall 
no longer afford a covert for the worms, and pouring spirits of turpen¬ 
tine (oil of pine,) freely into the sore is the practice here universally re¬ 
sorted to. A few applications are effectual, in all cases where the mal¬ 
ady is seasonably discovered. Where bucks are running together in 
warm weather their heads should be frequently examined and if there 
is any soreness or bloodiness about the base of the horns, spirits of tur¬ 
pentine should be applied. So watchful in this respect was the late 
Isaac Bishop that he made it a practice during warm weather to get his 
bucks up regularly once in every month and apply this medicine around 
the horns of all, indiscriminately, whether they were thus affected or 
not. Wherever this pungent oil penetrates, if maggots are there lurk¬ 
ing, it instantly starts them out in evident agony—they hurry forth in- 
