OF BLEEDING 561 



spiral direction. The splints will require to be worn 

 for about twenty-one days, when they may be removed, 

 and the bandage alone worn, until the leg has acquired 

 sufficient strength. If the limb swells considerably, 

 the bandage must be slackened, and again tightened 

 when the swelling has subsided. If the fracture is 

 comminuted, that is, in more than one piece, the 

 safest thing is to destroy the animal immediately, as 

 there is but little chance of a recovery under such 

 circumstances. 



OF BLEEDING. 



The best and easiest mode of bleeding a sheep is to 

 open a large vein which passes over the cheek. This 

 vein can be readily felt, by pressing the finger on the 

 edge of the lower jaw-bone, where its trunk passes 

 over, and from thence its greater branches emanate, 

 and spread over the cheek about two inches from the 

 corner or angle of the jaw, nearly opposite to the third 

 grinding or molar tooth. When blood-letting is to be 

 performed, the operator must hold the sheep between 

 his limbs, with the croup placed against a wall to pre- 

 vent him from getting backwards. Place the left side of 

 the jaws undermost, and seize the lower jaw in such a 

 way that the fingers come upon its right side, so as to 

 press above the trunk of the vein a small way below 

 where the lancet is to be inserted. Make an incision 

 obliquely across the vein, where the trunk is largest, 

 which we have marked by letter a, Plate xiv, fig. i. 

 This will be distinctly felt through the skin. The 

 pressure prevents the flow of blood beyond the spot 

 where the finger is applied, and consequently must 

 pass through the opening, as it can find no other 

 course. The oblique incision is found to answer 

 better than one made along the course of the vein, or 



2 N 



