OF FOOT-ROT IN SHEEP. 
217 
in the actk n of the secreting 1 parts, and a large quantity of new- 
horn firmed. This hern, however, is of a soft nature, and 
unfit for the perfect functions of the part, hut it, nevertheless, 
presents a surface less sensitive than the more irritable surface 
w hich it covers. 
The sound and healthy hern being 1 destroyed, the vis medico ,- 
trix which exists in the secreting; part throws out the most in¬ 
sensible substance which it is still able to produce, in order to 
afford a temporary protection to the parts underneath; and 
even when, by increased or long 1 continued irritation, the parts 
are unable longer to secrete even this weak horn, granulations 
of proud flesh sprout out, whose surface is not of the most sen¬ 
sitive kind. 
In all cases there is a general increase of the secretion of the 
whole hoof. In some parts, however, this is greater than in 
others, and hence the great increase cf the crust, and the general 
distortion of the foot. As the disease is continued, this secretion 
is altered, according to the degree of the inflammation which 
exists; and the hoof, particularly the inside of it, between the 
digits, has a ridged-like appearance. At the connexion of the 
crust at the inside w ith the softer and thinner parts of the hoof 
towards the heel, there is also commonly a separation, or fissure, 
f rom w hich is thrown out a loose thready-like fungus, similar to 
what occurs in canker in the foot of the horse—to which dis¬ 
ease, indeed, some have considered fcot-rot very analogous. The 
difference betw r een the analogy of the two, however, consists in 
this, that, in seme cases of long standing, it approaches towards 
canker, while, in more recent cases, it resembles thrush. Foot- 
rot, however, is attended w ith more inconvenience to sheep, than 
thrush is to the horse. 
We occasionally meet w ith something more closely analogous 
to it than either canker or thrush, in cases of weak heels with 
corns, or in what is called a seedy toe in the foot of the horse. 
In su ch a case we often find mild or indolent inflammations, 
followed by suppuration, which proceeds slowly detaching the 
crust, as in foot-rot. » 
In other circumstances, however, we find, that instead of the 
slow and gradual progress of the disease which I have described, 
it moves on with greater rapidity; violent and painful inflam¬ 
mation is set up, which renders the animal excessively lame in 
a short time. It even breaks out at the coronet (top of the 
hoofs), causing the w hole hoof to be detached ; or the digits be¬ 
come swelled at the coronet, matter is formed, and sinuses run 
in various directions. The upper part of the space between the 
hoofs becomes inflamed, irritated, and moist w ith a secretion of 
