150 CUTTING TEETH. 



time and if not relieved speedily dies. This not unfre- 

 quently happens when the lamb is a number of days old and 

 had previously appeared healthy. Constipation is liable to 

 attack the same lamb several times if the exciting causes are 

 continued. Cathartics are not rapid enough in their action to 

 meet the case at the stage when it is generally first observed. 

 An injection of milk warmed to blood heat, with a sufficient 

 infusion of molasses to give it a chocolate color, should at 

 once be administered with a small syringe say two ounces 

 at a time for a small lamb, and three for a larger one.* The 

 lamb is held up perpendicularly by the hind-legs, so that the 

 fore-feet but just touch the floor, during and for a moment 

 after the injection. If hardened dung is not discharged with 

 the fluid, or soon afterwards, the injection is to be repeated. 

 This process generally gives prompt and entire relief, but if 

 the lamb continues inactive and dull, the tonic contained in 

 half a dozen teaspoonfulls of strong boneset or thoroughwort 

 (JEJupatorium perfoliatum) tea, has an excellent effect. And 

 where, as it often happens, the urinary action is also insufficient, 

 pumpkin seed tea is the readiest and safest remedy in the 

 hands of most farmers. The syringe and the injection 

 constitute the very sheet-anchor of artificial lamb raising. 

 The flock-master had better be without all other remedies 

 than these. 



There is another form of constipation occurring to very 

 young lambs, with their first evacuations. The dung (yet of a 

 bright yellow color) is so pasty and sticky that it is voided 

 with great effort, and the lamb sometimes utters short bleats, 

 expressive of considerable pain, in the process. The injection 

 is here also the most rapid remedy ; but two or three spoonfuls 

 of hogs' lard administered as a purgative, will usually answer 

 the same purpose. 



CUTTING TEETH. Sometimes a healthy looking lamb 

 seems strangely disinclined to suck. It seizes the teat as if 

 very hungry, but soon relinquishes it. It repeats this perhaps 

 once or twice, and then gives up the attempt. On examining 

 its mouth it will be found that the front teeth are not through 

 the gums, and that the latter, over the edges of the teeth, are 

 sufficiently inflamed to be very tender. Drawing the back of 

 the thumb nail across the teeth with sufficient force to press 



* It is not necessary to be exact. There are about eight ounces in half a pint of 

 fluid ; and the ordinary teacup or water-tumbler hold half a pint. 



