Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-09-18

whole continent to understand the nature and caus-
es of the many diseases to which sheep are hapie,
is incalcuable, and when well understood, tney
will be surprised to find the case with which tney
can be cured and in most instances prevented
When Mr. Jewett is informed that was born and
raised n shepherd, and that the little information
possess is the result of long and attentive practice,
he will, am sure, readily give me credit for the
true intention with which | write namely, to set
him and others right, as to the true cause of ana
remedy for this ESQ called disease and not TO llia
fault with him. or enter into any controversy aooos
it; for willingly admit that he gives evldenco ..
some practice and observation, and tnat 70
it is only necessary to direct that opSer'"''on "
make him valuable shepherd
Properly speaking, there IS no SUN u'0I i1 .o
self as foot-rot. II is invariably the result OF the
neglect of another disease, simple ana easy 10 cure
or the result of accident by oruise OF tne loot III
some wav. and always evinced by slight but VS.
lille lan,eness in whichever foot is injured. 1t is
moi eonfapio,ts neither can II be communicated by IN
oc,iafion. / saw the latter tested myself by the
late Mr. Field father of the present able veterinary
surgeon, of London, visit to extensive flock
master in Lecestershire and think by the time
you read this through, you will be convinced your
self as thoroughly as though you saw the expert
ment tried, Of the impossibty of its being so COM
municated, inasmuch foot-rot is not disease of
ITSELF
Sheep have secretory outlet between the claws
peculiar to them, which is liable to become OBJ
structed, and when INSTRUCTED for few days the
tender skin between the claws becomes red and
infamed, the sheep becomes lame on that foot, and
more lame Immediately after its first rising in the
morning than at any other time of day, the infam-
nation making greater Roadway while at rest du-
ring the night than at any other period The watch
full and observant shepherd will the lame sheep
at once on putting his flock up in the morning. and
will apply the remedy, which is simple First clean
the claw by running your finger or thumb up and
orb ypt with
no water convenient, then take out your bottle OF
spirits of turpentine and wash it well with your
finger with that; let the sheep lie a few minutes
until the claw is thoroughly dry, Il shall afterwards
describe the simple mode of securing sheep so
as that it cannot get off its side until loosened by
the shepherd,) and then rub between the claw
mixture of two parts tar and one part sleeps suet
boiled together, we'll blended and let COOL which
the shepherd should always have prepared and IN a
tin box to take out with him. This done, let the
sheep go to pasture again. and repeat the SANE
dressing every second day until the sheep becomes
well of the lameness until the skin breaks, which
il sometimes will do in spite Of the dressing, and
assumes the nature and appearance OF the disease
called scald, whenyo must then apply the llqud
dressing described below. The scald is disease
of tref though sometimes produced by the stop
page Of the secretory outlet Of the claws In the
manner described above, is generally produced by
very heavy dews, long continued series of hui
mid weather, which predisposes the foot to this in
jury 1t is as the other disease first discovered by
the shepherd from lamenes, but at different hour
of the day. When the flock are first put up in the
morning, the dew is heavy, is cooling to the foot, |
and washes between the claws clean, and though
the scald has made its appearance yet at that hour
the moisture prevents the friction of the parts from
hurting and causing lameness, and it is not discov-
cred until towards noon when the dew is all gone, |
and between the claws becomes dry, and the fric- |
ton commences to hurt and irritate the parts and
tloot ba1 hoo ami ban c
is the case, the shepherd knows it is the scald he
collects his flock, catches the lame Sheep ropes
them as it is termed, and lays them on the side.-
He then takes his wash, previously prepared, com
posed of two parts tar and one of oil of turpentine
well mixed together, and then slowly added and
stirred in, part Of muratic acid spirit of sat)
with after that four parts of blue vitrol very fine
ly powdered, to which add spirits of turpentine
sufficient to make the whole, when well shaken up
in bottle, Of liquid consistency, that the wash
may be applied by dipping feather into it. with
which. anoint the scaded parts with feather
The bottle must be well shaken every time the
feather is dipped in, and when the claws are dress
ed the sheep must then lay tied until the wash is
perfectly dried in, and sort of incrusaton is form
ed on the scalded parts, every second day is
enough to dress. 1t sometimes occurs that not
outstanding every care this scald turns to SORE
and then it is, that it is called the foot-rot The
sore is produced generally by something getting in
between tie claws, such as a bit of gravel or hard
clay, or struck by some substance that would pro-
duce extra irritation, proud flesh and soughing.-
The treatment then is, if the sore extends either
way to the horny substance, to pare it away to the
healthy edge then shake little fine powdered loaf
sugar on the part which will entirely take away
the proud flesh, and then after half an hour apply
tle wash and when dry, loose the sheep to pasture
care should be taken never to wrap the foot with
cloth, unless when the horny substance is taken
is pft tira1, haro1 10 thol
ground, and then the one claw only should be ban
daged or If both are bared each ciaO should be
separately 6dnddged to prevent greater friction of
tne parts, and to keep them the more cool. Under
ms circumstance alone is bandage on the foot of
2 sheep erer admissible because it causes greater
neat, ana OF course greater friction by keeping the
claws pound together and not allowing them to
spread. In this stage of the disease, it is necessa-
~ 10 aress every day. and it must be noticed, that
.e cool OF the morning is the best hour for dress
ing because the sheep in hot weather is much OPP
pressed by being tied down on its side for the length
vi tnhe' sometimes an hour or more, that the prop
ct application OF the dressing requires 1t not IN
frequently happens that sheep show ameness when
you can neither see scald, nor discover infamma-
ton between the claws from the stoppape of the
secretory outlet; and then the shepherd must look
lor the cause, by pressing and examining the hoof
!ouhd, IN the same way as the cause of lameness
Is sought for In the horses hoof and when discov
cred, the horny substance must be psred down to
the part affected, and then the applications made
as before described. In this case the lameness is
produced from precisely the same causes as the |
ianeness In horses hoof by bruise or hurt, or
by the prick of nail, or the gradual working-in of
some gravelly substance, which, when discovered
and on opening, matter is found it is Immediately
pronounced as foot-rot in the sheep; but who ever
heard of footrot under similar circumstances in the
horse, or who ever supposed that the NATTER if APP
Piled to another horse by incubation, would pro-
doce lameness and similar sore in the same re-
glon, the foot? On this deem any other remark
unnecessary. No other help than the shepherd and
ms aog Is required nor no other instrument than
sb aTong, sharp and well pointed two bladed knife
ono 90 e blade to pare down the hoof the smaller
oN1 MI ~ CUT GU, down to the part affected
Inc way OF tying down the sheep is as follows
ge' soit rope made Of tow with three plies, each
Ply as timex as your middle finger, five feet lone