Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-09-04
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FOOT ROT IN SHEEP.

What Its SYMPTOMS Are and How to
Cure 1t.
Professor E. A. A. Grange, veterin-
arian of the Michigan Agricultural Ex-
pertinent station, has published a care
fully prepared bulletin on foot rot in
sheep. There are two varieties of this
disease, contagious and noncontagious,
the first far more to be dreaded. The
cure, however, is the same for both.
Where there are ulcers in contagious
foot rot they should be touched with
some caustic solution, and for this Pro
lessor Grange recommends butter of an
timony. Of the symptoms in contagious
foot rot he writes:
In typical cases of this form of the complaint
the early symptoms are characterized by lame
ness in one or more feet, the coronet usually
swells, the space between the claws will be red
and tender, soon to be followed by the appear
ance OF several minute v~esicles, containing q
watery like fluid, shortly a sticky, foul smell
ing lardaceous substance oozes from the af-
fected parts, proud flesh forms, or ulcers may
make their appearance; in the course of q
week, more or less, the hoof begins to separate
from the quick, and if the process is not arrest
ed 1t Will do so in about a month. The disease
often extends rapidly from one foot to the
others, until all are involved and the creature
Is left without q leg to stand on; it lies down,
and through tho rubbing occasioned by its
movements the skin soon has bed sores'' on
various parts of it, which become foul, attract
ing blowfies that take advantage of these
warm spots to deposit and hatch their eggs,
and IN a few daysa crop of maggots are present
to add fuel to the fire. With this fresh source
of irritation we can easily imagine that the
mil n rrrv ~ 0fy1 @~~-,- N
its appetite, and things go from bad to worse,
till it eventually dies from marasmus.
In dlfferentiating this disease from the nom
contagious variety, we will notice that after
one footi is affected it soon makes its appearance
in others; then, too, the gradual spread of the
malay IN the flock should arouse our sus-
plclons, and by careful observation it can u.s.
ually be traced to exposure. Finally it does
not yield to tho removal of the exciting cause
OF the nOncOntagious kind.
Tho contagion of this disease is contained
largely in the matter exuded from the sores of
the feet, and is spread in a great variety of
ways, notably through litter, pasture fields.
roads, freight cars, freight boats, washing pens,
currents of water, etc.; indeed whatever the
feet OF affected sheep come in contact with is
liable to spread the disease. Attendants, after
working among an affected flock, cannot be
too careful in handling healthy ones or indi-
vidual animals.
~ WI oo VI Cl4S COUlpldluL remains 0CIlVo
for q long time, though the limit of its vitality
has not been ascertained. Sheep appear to be
the only domestic animals affected by this
disease.
1t gains access to the system through the skin
at the foot.
The period of incubation is estimated as ex-
tending over a period varying from three to
six days.
Of the method of curing foot rot Pro-
fessor Grange says:
The first thing to be done is to remove all su-
perfiuous horn, then cleanse the wound thor
oughly with warm water, after which our
curative remedies may be applied. If ulcers.
which may be recognized by their unhealthy,
ragged, angry appearance, have already
formed, caustics should be applied. OF the
host of caustics found in the vocabulary of
medicinal agents, few have gained as much
favor as butter of antimony, its 1uidity max
ing it easy to apply, while it's energetic action
makes it an effectual remedy. To apply it
take a sponge about the size Of a small birds
egg, saturate this with the fluid and apply to
the affected part, taking care not to allow the
medicine to extend into the healthy tissues,
and thus avoid unnecessary pain for the ami
NAL. T~wenty-four hours after the caustic
has been applied, if the wound is still foul,
with a fetid discharge from it, the caustic may
again be repeated, but it is seldom that q third
application Is necessary, for some days at oil
events. Further treatment consists in keeping
the foot as clean as possible, and the daily ap-
plication of some antiseptic fluid-sulphate of
copper one part, rain water twelve parts,
makes a good one; the corresponding salt of
iron IN similar proportions has proved most
effectual in the writer's hands,. In some in
stances beneficial results will accrue from the
application OF the copper solution one day and
the iron the next. The animal should be fed
well and its general comfort attended to.