168 THE TREATMENT OF BOEDER 



fields out of wliicli they were weaned (none on to second year's 

 grass), these having been left empty or "hained" for them while 

 away at the moor. From this change into rich pasture, after 

 the poorer grass of the moor, lambs are very liable to become 

 affected with " yellows " or gall-lamb as it is called by some. 

 The liver is evidently disturbed in its functions ; disordered bile 

 is poured into the duodenum, and frequently is regurgitated into 

 the abomasum or fourth stomach. From the absorption of bile 

 into the system the skin assumes a yellowish tint, and the fat 

 after death is also found to be coloured. This disease runs a 

 rapid course, seldom lasting more than three days, and frequently 

 carrying off the lamb in fourteen or fifteen hours. Although it 

 does not always terminate in death, it never fails to leave traces 

 of its presence upon the body of the lamb. A part which seems 

 to be peculiarly affected is the head and ears. These at first 

 swell immensely, the ears in time hang down, and in bad cases 

 part of them crumble or drop off, so that ever afterwards the 

 lamb appears as though it had been lacerated by a dog. Im- 

 mediate chciinge of pasture, and to a permanent grass field if 

 possible ; the loss of a small quantity of blood in the commence- 

 ment of the attack, and purgatives, ahbrd a chance, and but a 

 chance, of a cure. 



Management of Ewes and Lambs after Weaning. 



After the lambs are taken from theii? mothers it is usual to 

 milk the ewes once or twice in order to prevent any danger from 

 overloaded udders. This practice is, how^ever, rapidly dying out 

 amongst sheep-breeders, although much may be said both for 

 and against the custom. Certainly when ewes are in high con- 

 dition they must be the better of milking, but when compara- 

 tively thin it will be an unnecessary trouble. It has been found 

 by experience that from penning and milking ewes lose about 

 one shilling per head. If it is intended that they should not be 

 milked, the ewes should be at once X->la'Ced on dry, bare pasture, 

 where, in a short time, the milk will become gradually absorbed. 

 Usually, even where it is not the general practice to milk ewes, 

 there are a few particular cases in which it is considered neces- 

 sary to draw off the superfluous milk, and in regard to this the 

 shepherd must be left to his own judgment. Signs of distress 

 are usually betokened by extreme distension and redness of the 

 udder, and stiffness, more or less, of both hind legs. Where 

 such symptoms as these are observed it will certainly be better 

 for the shepherd to relieve the ewe by milking. On a farm 

 where milking was common, and where it has now been given 

 up, we have been told by the shepherd that since then more 

 "spindled" teats have occurred in the udders of his ewes. The 



