807 
No. 175.] 
common in this country before the Saxon sheep were imported, as it 
has since been. But it is unnecessary to enter upon a discussion of 
this topic, inasmuch as there is but one opinion prevailing in this country 
re-pertinc it. Facts in abundance might be adduced to show that this 
prevailing opinion is correct. 
The predisposing, that is, the essential cause of this disease, is a 
virus, or poisonous matter, which i3 generated in, and issues from the 
sores upon the feet of diseased sheep, which virus, by coming in con¬ 
tact with the feet of sound sheep communicates the same disease to 
them. It is therefore a disease of identically the same class with the 
itch, the small-pox, &c., in the human race, the kine-pox in the cow, 
and the “grease,” in the horse. In the foot-rot of sheep, it is the com¬ 
mon, and no doubt the correct opinion, that this virus is communicated 
not immediately from the feet of the diseased to those of the sound 
sheep, but is discharged upon the grass, haulm, stones, &c., of the 
sheep-walks, from whence it comes in contact with the feet of sound 
sheep. How long this virus, after it is discharged from the sores in 
which it has been generated, will retain its energy, is an important 
•question, upon which we possess no authentic inhumation. It would 
seem, that exposed as it is to the atmosphere, to the light and heat of 
the sun, the rains and the night dews, it would be soon decomposed 
and rendered inert. But no one deems it safe to turn his sheep into 
a field where diseased sheep have been, the same season; and some, 
are even of the opinion, that the fronts of winter do not destroy the 
taint, and that there is therefore some risk in pasturing sheep where a 
disorded (lock has had its abode the preceding summer. 
165. Its exciting causes .—It is in the summer season that this disease 
mostly affects the sheep. During cold weather, except a slight degree 
of lameness, it commonly discommodes them but little. As warm 
weather advances, the lameness increases, and the ulceration and dis¬ 
charge of matter then becomes more active. 
The foot-rot is most inveterate among flocks that are pastured upon 
low, wet grounds. Hence it prevails to a much more considerable ex¬ 
tent upon the clay lands upon the west side of this county, and is there 
more obstinate and less readily cured than upon the gravel lands on 
the east side of the county. And in Easton, large and valuable flocks 
have sometimes been so badly affected, that their proprietors have been 
induced to sell them out entirely, and remain a year or mors without 
any sheep, regarding this ns the only course by which they could hope 
to obliterate the virus of this disease from their premises. 
