ON THE FOOT-llOT IN SHEEP. 41 
stroys the morbid action of the parts, as that chemical, and these 
are great desiderata in all states of this disease. 
When a sheep halts, let your attendant cast him. Then, if the 
hoof is too long, pare it on a level with the sole; shorten the toe ; 
and be particular in examining the foot between the claws. If it 
is swollen, looks red, or has any discharge of bloody serum oozing 
from any fissure or fissures, let the solution of the bichloride, or 
hydrochloric acid, be well applied to the part by means of a little 
tow twisted on a small flat piece of whalebone, and, in this stage 
of the complaint, one dressing is usually sufficient. 
There is nothing so much desired by the farmer as an applica¬ 
tion which will at once put a stop to this complaint. The trouble 
it would save is incalculable, when we consider the time it takes 
to dress the feet every day of from 30 to 50 or 100 sheep. 
If abscesses have formed around the coronet, and burst, they 
usually have two or three fistulous openings, whmh, with your silver 
probe, you will soon discover. Arm the eye of the probe with a 
little tow dipped in the solution, and draw it through the sinus or 
sinuses. If they extend into the joint, the same thing must be 
done. Twice is most commonly sufficient to apply the solution 
in these cases; and oftentimes, when you attempt to pass the probe 
the second time, you will not be able, from its being filled with 
coagulated lymph. If any of the discharge is between the crust, 
pare the sole, and with a feather or syringe apply it to the part. 
Fungus is sure to sprout from any part where the sole or crust 
is lost, and rapidly will it sprout. Agriculturists and shepherds 
are at a loss in curing these morbid growths, as they resist nearly 
all the caustic applications in use, both empirical and those contained 
in the materia medica. Butyr of antimony, quicksilver and aqua¬ 
fortis, and numerous other applications, are of no avail, especially 
if the disease is of long standing. There is but one quick and 
effectual remedy, that is the hot iron, which will do more good in 
five minutes than all the caustics in our pharmacy. 
About four months ago, I was called in to look at two very 
valuable rams, belonging to a celebrated breeder, that had been 
lame for four months with a fungous sole. The gentleman had 
tried all his usual remedies to no purpose; and you will find 
during your practice, that people who have the management of 
sheep are rather tenacious of their own knowledge, and will have 
nothing to do with the veterinary surgeon, except from necessity. 
I applied the hot iron with a keen edge, so as to cut off the fungus. 
All fungus that sprouts from a denuded sole when of long standing, 
becomes hard and contracted at its base, which a hot iron will 
soon remove, and the lameness also in a few days, as it did in 
the case just recited. The fungus that grows from any part of th(' 
VOL. Xlll. F 
