SECTION XXI. 



SURGICAL DISEASES. 



Surgery in the sheep has been of the "rough 

 and ready" sort, to which the patient was as 

 likely to succumb as to the original disease or ail- 

 ment. Another thing, the value of the animal, 

 except in the case of pure-bred animals, has never 

 been enough to justify expert assistance. 



The sheep, like the ox, is very resistant to pyo- 

 genic infection, and if in good condition soon re- 

 covers from surgical interference when this is 

 done in a skillful manner. 



1. Diseased Teeth. 



Often supernumerary teeth are found that inter- 

 fere with rumination and cause the adjacent 

 teeth to decay. Extraction is indicated, and can 

 be performed with a small pair of "wolf tooth" 

 forceps. 



2. Concussion of the Brain. 



This is comparatively rare, taking into consid- 

 eration the chief method of defense is butting. 

 On the western range, many cases are seen among 

 lambs in the mountainous district, caused by rocks 

 rolling down the mountainside and hitting them 

 on the head. 



Symptoms: More or less vague, unless one 

 knows the history of the case. The animal seems 



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