Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-24
A0rffn1tnral.
MANAGEMENT OF HOOP ROT IN SHEEP.

v,
to prevent the virus from being communi-
Gated to the hoofs of healthy sheep Every
sheep that is in the least affected with the
hoof rot should be separated at once from
the flock and kept at distance from them,
until every appearance of the disease is re-
moved. The best time to examine whether
the hoofs are diseased or not, is soon after
a heavy rain, as all dry dirt will then be
washed from their feet, and the hoofs will
be wet and soft, and may be shaved off
much more easily than when they are dry.
Let the sheep be confined III a clean pen,
Uttered with straw, so that but little ma
nure will be held between the parts of the
hoofs. Now, let one man place sheep on
one of its sides on a plank or box, about
feet high, with all its legs extending hori-
zontally over large tub of water While
the sheep is held in this position, let another
man wash the hoots clean, using woolen
wash-rag. With sharp-edged but dull
pointed knife, remove all the dirt from the
cracks and creases of the hoots and cut
off scaly pieces, and ill-Shapen hoofs. If
there are any signs Of hoof rot there will
be no difficulty in discovering it. Scrape
off and wash out thoroughly all the diseas-
ed matter, using strong soap suds Then
wipe the hoofs with a dry wooden cloth, and
apply the caustic or corrosive as will be
subsequently explained
Sheep should then be turned into a clean
dry yard or pasture, for few hours where
no wet grass will wash off the application.
and where the hoofs will not be filled with
dirt. The most suitable tools for pruning
hoots are strong pair Of pruning shears
that make a drawing cut, a good pocket
knife, and an inch or an inch-and-a-half CHS
el and mallet. All these tools should be
properly ground on a stone Of fine grit and
then wctted on a fncgraincd oil stone. If
the tools be put in good cutting order, ,hoofs
may be cut or paired off without difficulty.
When hoofs are dry and hard thew are not
only more difficult to cut or pare off. but
there is danger OF tearing off the shell
where it is thin. When any of the noofs
have grown beyond their proper length.
place the sheep on its feet on a hard plank,
and use the chisel and mallet Chip of
small portions at once, when cutting near
the quick and never place the chsel on
the hoof so as to cut square across, but a
little slanting, as it will cut easier and be
less liable to hurt the sheep After the
long toes have been pruned off, shave of
the prominent corners with the pockct-knife.
There are several remedies, ointmcnts.
caustlcs, and corrosive applications, which
nave pGen employed IN curing the foot rot.
An apP!lcaLIoh oi pine tar and spirits OF
turpcntine mixed, has been used with GOOD
results Blue Vltrol pulyerlzed and ming
led with tar applied warm, is another rem
cay ara Il stfoh9 solution OF tluc vitiol
in warm water is also good the sheep be-
hlg maze 10 STAND a mlnntc or two in a
trough containing 1t. ItI Is, however, apt
10 be washed OIL III short time by wet
grass. Inc pest preparation that we have
ever used was equal quantities of dry
"Llle Icad and IIheIy pulVerlZed blue Wit
rol mingled with boiled Imsecd OIL but on
y to that degree that it would barely flow
inns IS apPHed with a small sWab to the
Affected parts, alter the feet have been pre-
pared as aIfeahy directed. One or two ap-
pIlca'iohS OF this preparation during the
HfSt stages OF the loot rot, Will usually ar
rest ITS progress III iiock, and effect a per-
A"hchI cure. but when the disease has
require" inc PatIhS away OF a large pro
portion ol the hoo1, SO much 50 that the
bones are lald bare, as is sometimes the
case, II Will he necessary to tie pieces
ol hrm cio1h over the feet, which are first
wrapped IN tow. The tow IS put around
al" over inc wound, then pieces Of coarse
toWcIIhg, or OF old sacks about five inches
square, are placed beneath each foot, the
edges are turned up, the corners folded
smoothly to the leg, and tied barely tight
enough with wooIen yarn to keep the rags
from dropping OIL. The boiled oil causes
the lead and copper salts to adhere WELL
and 10y drying soon, 1t forms good coat to
exclude drt, after the bandage has worn
ont. sheep should be examined at least
once a week where the hoof rot has made
is appearance and constant watch
should be Kept to discover amy symptoms
OF Iameness, which is one Of the first signs
OF the disease. Timely attention may save
many valuable sheep.
1ouat1 directs, that after thoroughly
Pafln9, ne loot should be washed with a
solution OF chloride OF lime, III the proper
ton oi one pound OF the powder to a gal
ION OF water Inns Will remove the f~tor,
ana tendency to SIoughlng and mortifca-
ton which are the too frequent attendants
on loot rot. The muriate or butter of anti
mony must then be rresorted to, and by
means ol a small stuck with a little tow
tIcd around one OF It's eXtremities, applied
to every denuded part, lightly where the
t I..l