Footrot

a disease peculiar to sheep. The Scottish shepherd recognizes two varieties. The first arises simply from overgrown hoofs. It is prevalent among sheep that feed on soft, swampy ground. Moisture causes the hoofs to grow rapidly, and there is no grit to wear them off. The sheep become lame. A cure may be affected by trimming the hoofs and returning the sheep to stony or hard ground. Genuine footrot, however, is of an entirely different character. It is due to the lodgment of a microscopic growth, possibly an ulcercausing bacterium, in the flesh between the hoofs. It is exceedingly contagious. A few animals afflicted with footrot infect an entire pasture, and in this way communicate the disease to a large flock. Afflicted animals should be kept by themselves. Various ointments may be applied to kill the germs. Sulphuric acid and oil of turpentine make an excellent caustic for the purpose. Footrot is not only exceedingly offensive, but it causes sheep to lose their hoofs and incapacitates them for grazing. See Sheep