664 
ESSAY ON FOOT-ROT. 
for the purpose of sorting them. The sortings are usually neces¬ 
sary every second or third day; but their frequency must be deter¬ 
mined by the state of the weather and the obstinacy of the case. 
There is no reason for believing that there is more than one 
specific malady known by the name of foot-rot. All the cases 
that came under my observation went through the same stages, 
exhibited the same symptoms, and yielded to the same cure ; 
but the degrees of obstinacy with which they resist the s tme 
treatment are very different. If the sensible incrustation be 
heedlessly crushed or wounded, or the hoof pared till it bleed, 
fungous flesh is very apt to rise ; in which case the cauterizing 
iron must be applied. But, unless the cure be mismanaged, 
, there is no tendency to produce fungoid granulations. 
The disease is simply contagious, and not hereditary; nor does 
it seem to affect the constitution previously to its appearance. 
Wherever it exists, it spreads with an unvarying and constant 
progress, till it has established itself among the whole flock. 
On its first introduction, it spread the more securely, that it was 
long thought to be merely an ulcerous foot, which would soon 
dry up of itself; but the order and certainty of its course soon 
convinced the store-farmers that it was a peculiar and contagious 
disorder. In all situations where it has obtained a footing, we 
find it beginning in a particular place, and, if unopposed, ex¬ 
tending on all sides wherever there are sheep to be affected by it. 
To these circumstances I may add the universal belief among 
store-farmers and shepherds, that it is decidedly contagious. 
There is no reason for supposing that an animal which has once 
had it, is more liable than another to its attack. It prevails 
much between Whit Sunday and Martinmas. The cases are 
obstinate in spring and autumn ; but in winter they are gene¬ 
rally rare. 
There are no soils to which it may not be communicated ; but 
on dry and elevated pastures, if any exertions are made for its 
suppression, it cannot spread extensively. There the range of 
the animal is wide and single; its walk is seldom crossed by its 
neighbours; the air is pure and invigorating, and deadens the 
contagion sooner than when it has been left on the grass spring¬ 
ing from a rank and warm soil. As moisture and foulness are 
known to strengthen the disease, all rank pastures encourage its 
extension, and it is on soft grassy soils that it prevails most 
steadily. 
When a sheep-farm or district is free of this disorder, the 
strictest attention is necessary to guard against its importation. 
When once introduced among a flock, there is no preventive 
that I know of, but the most vigilant attention on the part of 
the shepherd, who must use every means in his power to check 
