AND CATTLE DOCTOR. 217 



in this matter, in the Highland Society's Transactions ; 

 I did not mean to insinuate that it was with pleasure I 

 discovered the art^of curing them in this way, but 

 only my success in that art. I mentioned in these 

 Transactions, that when I was a shepherd boy, for a 

 number of years I probed the skull of every sturdied 

 sheep I could lay my hands on, without any regard 

 to whom they belonged, and likewise took every 

 opportunity of visiting my patients as often as possible ; 

 and as the country around me swarmed with them 

 every spring and summer, my practice, of course, was 

 of prodigious extent. It was several years before I 

 was sensible of failing in one instance, which, how- 

 ever, it was often impossible to ascertain, they having 

 left the spot sometimes, before I could again go that 

 way : but many a valuable young sheep I cured to dif- 

 ferent owners, without ever acknowledging it, having 

 no authority to try such experiments. 



The following symptoms, after the operation, may 

 be depended on. If the animal becomes considerably 

 sick, it is a good sign that it will recover. 



If it continues to grow sicker, and abstains from 

 feeding for the space of two days, it is likely to die ; 

 and if in a condition to be fit for family use, ought to 

 be killed forthwith. The flesh of the animal is none 

 the worse for this disease ; on the contrary, it is uni- 

 versally supposed by the country people, that their 

 flesh is sweeter, more delicate and palatable, than any 

 other. This, I suppose, must be owing to their tender 

 age, it being unusual to kill any sheep so young, save 

 lambs. 



The first symptom of recovering is their bleating 



If once they begin to bleat occasionally, they are surs 



to recover, however stupid they may appear at that 



time. It seems that thev are then becoming sensible 



19' 



