214 
MR. DICK ON THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION 
, But what, it may be asked, has this to do with the foot-rot?— 
More, I am inclined to think, than is generally imagined. The 
hoofs of sheep being intended to receive a degree of friction 
from hard surfaces, are not acted upon when the animal is 
placed under such circumstances; and the necessary consequence 
is an overgrowth of the hoof. The crust,—the part naturally 
intended to support the weight of the animal, and to endure the 
greatest share of fatigue,—is here allowed to grow out of all due 
bounds, because the softness of the pasturages, upon which it 
now moves, presents little, if any, of that rough friction to which 
the feet of the animal is naturally intended to be exposed. The 
crust, therefore, grows unrestrained, until it either laps over the 
sole, like the loose sole of an old shoe, and serves to retain and 
accumulate earth and filth, or is broken off in detached parts, 
in some cases exposing the quick, or opening new pores, into 
which particles of earth or sand force their way, until reaching 
the quick, an inflammation is set up, which, in its progress, alters 
or destroys the whole foot. 
It is well known that there are some pastures peculiarly apt 
to produce this disease, and these vary to such an extent, that 
it is with an almost irresistible necessity that the conclusion 
thence derived is, that the disease is highly infectious. Few 
have ventured to question this point; and the stubborn facts ad¬ 
vanced in support of such doctr’ne are so strong, that it requires 
some degree of hardihood for any one to attempt to refute it. 
Before I, therefore, venture to give any opinion upon this part of 
the subject, I shall first advert a little further to the nature of the 
situations and circumstances under which the disease most com¬ 
monly makes its appearance. 
The finest and richest old pastures and lawns are particularly 
liable to this disease; soft, marshy, and luxuriant meadows are 
equally so; and it is also found in light, soft, or sandy districts. 
In the first of these it is perhaps most prevalent in a moist sea¬ 
son, and in the latter in a dry one ; in short, it exists to a greater 
or less extent in every situation which has a tendency to increase 
the growth of the hoofs without wearing them away, and more 
especially where they are kept soft by moisture. It is so pre¬ 
valent in fine lawns and pleasure-grounds, that they are, in 
many instances, reduced in value to a mere trifle as a pasture 
for sheep; they are said to be infected with this disease, and, 
having once become so, the vicissitudes of seven seasons are 
scarcely sufficient to destroy the contagion. A luxuriant herb¬ 
age on soft pastures is equally subject to it; and, in both cases, 
the disease is increased in a wet season. 
The reason why, in these situations, sheep are so liable to the 
