212 MR. DICK ON THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION 
tages the foot would gain by having the shoe nailed as Mr. Turner 
proposes, when both theory and practice assure me that the shoe 
would lack sufficient security upon the hoof by such innovation. 
It will be time enough to consider this point, when Mr. Turner 
has convinced veterinarians, farriers, and blacksmiths, that they 
have no occasion whatever to insert nails along the inner side of 
the shoe ; nailing along the outer side and “ inside toe” being all 
that is required under all circumstances and in all situations, to 
keep the shoes on. 
I trust Mr. T. will discover nothing in this letter but what is 
fairly argumentative : I write to elicit knowledge, not to excite 
wanton and fruitless discussion ; and am, Gentlemen, 
Your obedient servant, 
A Constant Reader. 
ON THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF FOOT-ROT 
IN SHEEP. 
By Mr. Dick, Veterinary Surgeon , Edinburgh. 
The foot-rot in sheep is a subject of so much importance to 
the agriculturist, and the disease has prevailed to such an extent 
during the last two years, that any apology for offering a few 
remarks upon it would be superfluous. Indeed, its destructive 
effects are at any time such as to call attention to this subject; 
and the differences of opinion which exist regarding the causes 
which produce the disease, the means of preventing it, and the 
remedies for it, plainly shew that the subject is as yet but im¬ 
perfectly understood. 
There are some points of importance to be kept in view, in 
order to understand properly either the functions of the foot cf 
the sheep, or the nature of the diseases to which it is liable. The 
foot presents a structure and arrangement of parts w ell adapted 
to the natural habits of the animal. It is divided into two digits 
or toes, which are shod with a hoof composed of different parts, 
similar in many respects to the hoof of the horse. Each hoof is 
principally composed of the crust or wall, and the sole. The 
crust, extending along the outside of the foot round the toe, and 
turning inwards, is continued about half way back betw een each 
toe on the inside. The sole fills the space on the inferior surface 
of the hoof between these parts of the crust, and, being continued 
backwards, becomes softer as it proceeds, assuming somewhat 
the structure of the substance of the frog in the foot of the horse, 
and performing, at the same time, analogous functions. The 
