FEED AND CARE OF THE EWE. 197 



legs bent back; head down between forelegs; head bent along 

 one side; and sometimes the foetus seems determined to come 

 stern first, with legs doubled back. In any of the above 

 cases of presentation the ewe needs assistance in delivery. 

 In most of them the lamb should be pushed back into the 

 womb and straightened out so that it may come in the natural 

 way. In case it is determined to come stern first with legs 

 doubled up, which of course is the wrong and unnatural way 

 to come, it should be pushed back and hind legs straightened 

 out, and the lamb then removed, hind parts first. When a 

 lamb's head is very large, sometimes by a little timely help 

 from the shepherd the ewe may be spared from much pain 

 and labor. That is, a few minutes' help at the right time 

 from the shepherd will often save the ewe from a trying 

 hour's trouble. For instance, if the lamb has a large head, 

 the shepherd can materially assist her by placing his hand 

 on the skin of the vulva and gently pushing it over the head 

 of the lamb. After the head is free the forelegs should be 

 straightened out; and then by taking both feet in one hand, 

 the lamb may be pulled in a circular direction toward the 

 ewe's udder. As soon as the lamb is born, some of the mucus 

 about its legs rubbed on the ewe's nose will greatly arouse 

 her maternal instincts, and often save or avoid much trouble 

 later on. If the ewe is weak and exhausted, there is nothing 

 better for her than a drink of warm oatmeal gruel three or 

 four times a day. This can be given from a long-necked 

 bottle, if she will not drink it otherwise. If the lamb is 

 chilled a hot bath is the best thing for it, and then rub it 

 by hand and wrap it in a flannel cloth. A teaspoonful of hot 

 gin or whisky and water, a little sweetened, is the common 

 treatment given by the Highland shepherd for the restoration 

 of a weak or chilled lamb, and it is certainly effective. 



If a ewe refuses to care for her lamb, as is often the case, 

 especially with twins, she should be put into a small pen, 

 in which she cannot get away from the lamb. There are 

 n^any methods used by the shepherds in order to bring about 

 the maternal instinct or reconciliation of the ewe. Some 

 cut the tail off the lamb and rub the blood on the ewe's nose 

 and on the back of the lamb. Others use the method of 

 milking the ewe onto the back of the lamb, thus bringing 

 about the desired result. Where the ewe has a dead lamb, 

 and it is intended that she act as a foster-parent to some 

 strange lamb, the dead lamb should be skinned while it is 



