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In dry summers, among flocks pastured upon mountain lands, this 
disease does not occasion much annoyance. But even here, it will 
spread and rage in a virulent manner, in damp, hot seasons. It con¬ 
sequently affects our flocks, much more seriously in some years 
than it does in others, warmth and moisture being the circumstances 
that have been observed as contributing to promote it in a notable man¬ 
ner. 
166. Its symptoms. —Dr. James Kice, of Fort Ann, in whose flockthe 
foot-rot has prevailed of late years in a slight degree, informs me that 
it is not a constitutional, but purely a local disease, in the medical 
sense of these terms. In other words, it is not attended with any 
fever, loss of appetite, or other disturbance of the system at large— 
that except a slight preternatural warmth, perhaps, in the leg, on the 
access of the disease, all its symptoms are confined to the foot alone. 
One foot only is commonly affected at the first, and it is rare that all the 
feet are diseased even in the severest and fatal cases. 
The disease consists in an inflammation and ulceration in the sole of 
the foot, at the junction of the hoof with the soft parts, eating like a 
cancer and destroying the connection of the hoof with the foot. It 
commences upon the posterior or heel side of the foot and works for¬ 
ward towards the toe, the heel portion of the hoof becoming entirely 
sundered from the soft parts, so that it may be readily raised up, whilst 
the attachment anteriorly still remains sound; but eventually the whole 
hoof becomes severed and drops off! The ulceration is of a highly ma¬ 
lignant character ; fungous granulations, popularly called “proud flesh,” 
shoot up, and it is what is commonly termed “an angry-looking sore.” 
The matter which is discharged from it has a peculiar and most offen¬ 
sive smell, which, in doctoring this disease, is imparted to the fingers 
and remains upon them for two or three days notwithstanding the most 
thorough washing. This peculiar fetor is one of the surest diagnostic 
marks of the disease. A person who has once become acquainted wilh 
it will readily determine thereafter whether lameness in a sheep is caus¬ 
ed by foot-rot by the sense of smell; nor does the organ of this sense 
require to be very near the affected member to perceive this odor, if it 
is present. 
167. Its termination .—This disease is probably quite painful to the 
unfortunate subjects of it in all stages of its progress. At its first com¬ 
mencement it causes lameness, and this continues to increase, until 
with the advance of the malady the sheep is no longer able to endure 
the agony produced by standing erect. It lays itself down, never to 
rise more. Partly upon its knees, for two or three days it creeps around 
