222 
MR. DICK ON THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION 
do in the case ? But I need not discuss this point further at 
present, as 1 trust 1 have already shewn that all ideas of its in¬ 
fectious nature are merely chimerical. 
As this disease arises in consequence of the hoofs not beings 
exposed to sufficient friction to wear them down, or keep them 
in their proper state, or where their natural growth is increased 
by the nature and moisture of the ground, the hoofs of all the 
flock should be regularly rasped or pared at short intervals, say 
from eight days to a fortnight, according to the rapidity with 
which a particular pasture produces the disease. In certain si¬ 
tuations, they might be made to travel upon a hard surface 
similar to natural sheep tracks, or be folded in a place pur¬ 
posely prepared, upon which they could move about and wear 
their hoofs. For that purpose, they should be placed in it 
every day. 
Driving the sheep along’ a hard road for a short time daily 
would have a similar effect; laying their tracks with gravel 
would also be beneficial. And, as an experiment, I would 
suggest to those whose lands are apt to produce the disease, 
to satisfy themselves by feeding an equal number of diseased 
sheep and sound ones together in a fold with a hard dry bot¬ 
tom : let that bottom be kept free from filth and moisture, and I 
have no doubt it will be found that, instead of the sound sheep 
becoming infected, the diseased ones will become sound, unless 
indeed the feet are so far destroyed as to require medical treat¬ 
ment ; but even in that case, the improvement will be more 
rapid than under other circumstances. By the means which I 
have stated, simple as they are, I have no doubt the foot-rot 
may be made to disappear from many of those places where 
it at present proves a great deterioration to the value of 
pastures. 
In conclusion, I may further add,—as the locality must be 
familiar to every one who takes an interest in the romantic 
scenery around Modern Athens,—that, while the rich pastures 
which are in the neighbourhood of Arthur Seat are very subject 
to the disease, that hill itself is not only almost entirely free 
from it, but if the sheep when first infected are removed from 
the low grounds to the hill, thev soon get well; it therefore 
follows, that the disease may be prevented by adopting proper 
timely measures: and by adopting’ the principles I have en¬ 
deavoured to establish, and applying them according to the 
circumstances of the infected pastures, a considerable stop may 
be put to the disease, and in many situations it may be altogether 
prevented. 
I do not conceive it necessary to enter upon the cure of the 
