FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 117 



is no doubt very useful, but I have never employed any in 

 the case of the castration of very young lambs; I have never 

 'found such a course necessary. 



In the castration of aged rams, clamps should be used, the 

 use of which will prevent excessive bleeding. Clamps may 

 be made of wood, and will answer the purpose intended 

 equally as well as the more expensive steel ones. The ac- 

 companying engraving or cut will give a pretty clear idea 

 of how to make a pair of wooden clamps. Elder or hazel 

 wood is generally used for this purpose, but any hard wood 

 of a non-poisonous nature will answer equally as well. 



Of course, in castrating aged rams it is necessary to tie 

 the animal's legs to prevent struggling and to facilitate ease 

 in performing the operation. Where an assistant is available, 

 in the castration of young lambs the testicles can be pulled 

 out with the fingers and thumb, but the testicles are more 

 often smashed by this method than by grasping with the 

 teeth. In any case the testicle should be taken hold of well 

 down toward the small part of the spermatic cord, and in the 

 case of bursting a testicle it should be seen that the cord is 

 entirely removed or the chances are that it will cause sup- 

 puration. This is one objection to the cutting off of the 

 whole of the scrotum and its contents. In England pincers 

 with rubber jaws are used to draw the testicles, and they 

 are no doubt a very valuable addition to the shepherd's outfit. 



In castrating an aged ram his legs should be secured 

 with a rope; this being done, get your searing irons ready for 

 use by heating them to a dark red heat; then take the top 

 of the scrotum off with your knife and apply clamps securely 

 to spermatic cord, well below the testicle; then cut the testicle 

 off and sear the cord with the hot iron, treating one testicle 



