84 PUECHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 



TREATMENT AFTER PARTURITION. 



As soon as the camel lias dropped her young, she is curried with 

 care from the hump to the tail. The young is entirely covered with 

 the exception of its hump, which protrudes through an aperture cut 

 for it in the cover. The mother does not go to pasture for seven or 

 eight days, when the young one can go with her. The young camel 

 is taught to suck in the following manner : 



A man greases his finger with warm butter and places it in his 

 mouth, the little one sucks upon it, and then is introduced to its 

 mother's teat. After a few such lessons it learns to suck of its own 

 accord. At pasture it also soon learns to crop and graze. 



The young camel sucks at all hours during the spring and summer, 

 hilt in the autumn and winter following at night and morning only. 

 To hinder the young from sucking the teats of the mother are secured 

 by a bandage. When it is concluded to wean the young one it is 

 placed in a separate pasture or troop, and in a few weeks it forgets its 

 parent. If the female has been delivered towards the end of winter, 

 she generally remains undisturbed until the next winter, when she 

 again conceives so as to produce the winter after. In some instances 

 females have been known to produce in two successive years. After 

 delivery the mother calls her young in a hoarse and lugubrious cry ; 

 it is shown to her, and repeatedly presented to her, but she does not 

 recognize it ; until the calf has been shown and repeatedly presented 

 to her, she will not allow it to approach her udder. The young suck 

 after the first day, they do not walk until the seventh. 



MISCARRIAGES. 



Miscarriages are common, more so when the " legaa" is troubled 

 by flies. A light load will not cause it. Abortions at two or three 

 months are perfectly formed, even the hump being distinguishable. 



BARRENNESS. 



This is caused by over loading and is common. A protrusion of the 

 vagina is also caused by the same carelessness, but is soon relieved by 

 rest. 



CASTRATION. 



All camels intended for burden are to be castrated to avoid the 

 trouble they cause when in heat, and also to increase their strength 

 and hardihood. This is done early in the spring of the year, and 

 in two modes, either by perforating the testicles with a red hot iron, 

 or by opening the scrotum and detaching the testicles with a red hot 

 knife, taking care to tie the suspensory cords. Up to twelve years 

 old the operation may be performed. This operation, generally suc- 

 cessful, is nevertheless not without danger. 



