American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-05-15
Sarmers' Column,
FOOT ROT IN SHEEP.

- FOOT ROT IN SHEEP.
This distressing and destructive mall
adv is seldom properly understood or
treated and the result is that, though
= checked. it breaks out again. This IS
because so few farmers read and inform
themselves thoroughly about their bust
ness. and because even those well in
formed perform surgical operations in so
careless a manner. In the April numt er
of the American AgricUltwist, we ex>
planned the structure of the sleeps foot
and the origin Of the disease known Us
the foais.g This never need be contound>
ed with foot rot, though we doubt not it
is often the precursor Off for it puts the
foot in excellent preparation to take it
easily.
Coatagiousaegs Of Hoqf Rot -Thore
are some medical men, we believe, who
deny that any disease is contagious, and
they deny the coutagiousness Of hoof
rot They are, we presume, right just
so far were perfectly healthy foot,
sound and clean, TO be exposed to the
contagious virus, it would probably es-
cape if, however, it were anywise sore,
infamod or wounded, it would probably
take it at once. The disease is often
long in reaching that point whi h causes
the sheep to go lame, and it progresses
gradually, first causing limping then
the lifting of one foot; then severe
lameness OF both forefeet; then going
upon the knees, which brings the feet
in contact with the breast 1t does not
involve other parts Of the system until
far advanced Then the feet become
masses of rottenness; m9ggots breed in
them and work into the flesh, and this
corruption is communicated to the breast
During the whole course of the disease,
until near the last, the sheep has good
appetite and digestion, and is no other
way affected.
On this account the cure is, thcoreti-
cally, very simple and sure. In practice,
it is just as simple, if thoroughly done.
The well cleaned hoof3, soltened by
soaking in dewy grass or on a rainy day,
or otherwise, are pared with cutting
pliers and very sharp knives until ece,y
particie of diseased matter is taken away,
even if it involves the removal Of all the
hoof; they are then washed with warm
water and soap, and smeared with some
caustic paste, or fluid, or the sheep
forced to stand in hot, saturated solu,
tion of blue vitrol for ten minutes.
In discussing the origin of hoof rot,
most writers take sides, either denying
its contaglousness, or asserting it most
vehemently. For ourselves, we can see
no other sensible belief than that it may
be originated whenever the hoois, being
softened by moisture, are penetrated by
foreign substances like gritty soil or sand,
and especially when such things, finding
their way through cracks in the hoof,
thus come in contact with the sensitive
lamel@, or the papillary tissues, where
they induce acute inflammation. The
natural growth of the hoof adapts it to
the wear and tear of gravelly and rocky
hill sides, and on such localities the outer
walls wear off fast, so that they are near
ly even with the sole, and the foot is
neat and trim but on soft ground, in
stables or yards the growth Of the outer
wear, that they grow long, curl under
the sole, and turn up in front, throw the
wear back upon the heels, and keep them
more or less inflamed, and are them>
selves liable to cracks and splits, which,
if foreign substances work in, readily
involve the sensitive portion of the hoof
in inflammation. Where the horn
forming tissue becomes infamed, the
character of the horn formed is changed;
its quantity is greatly increased, but it is
softer, owing to the mixture Of pus aud
foreign matter, and in proportions has
fuDgoid appearance. The walls Of the
hoof become detached from the foot in
spots of larger or smaller extent, owing
to the fact that as soon as the lamel p
become diseased the horn they secrete
has no consistence, and hence the walls
have no hold upon the foot. The pus
which constantly exudes from the sores
has the quality of inducing the same
disease, if it comes in contact with in
famed or wounded surfaces of the feet
of other sheep. We sec, then, good
reasons for the views that the hoof rot
originates only in wet locations, or on
ground which is not dry, aud where
sleeps hoofs are liable to crack from
over-growth-and softening by water, and
exposed to grit, and that where the NAL
ady is otherwise unknown. it may be
communicated to a sound flock by the
introduction Of one sheep having the
disease. .-American -4gricuituriSt.