I I S.MAI.L-I'OX IN SUKKP 



\v(> were satisfied tliat the slieep were in a condition to 

 warrant their being inocnlated. 



The places usually selected for the insertion of the 

 ovine virus are the inside of the ears or thighs, the 

 under surfiice of the tail, the inferior parts of the abdo- 

 men, or sides of the sternum. We prefer either the 

 inside of the thigh or the postero-inferior portion of 

 the abdomen, avoiding in the former case the course 

 of the vessels, and in the latter the mammary gland of 

 the female, or the genital organs of the male. Captain 

 Carr, in giving instructions for the performance of the 

 operation, remarks that " the places best suited are 

 the inner side of the flap of the ear, or the under part of 

 the tail, close to the root. The instrument employed is 

 a kind of needle made for the purpose, with a fine, some- 

 what flattened point, which, having been dipped in the 

 virus, is carefvdly inserted between the upper and second 

 skin, cautiously avoiding piercing so deeply as to draw 

 blood, which is found to render the success of inocula- 

 tion less certain. Of course, in the absence of such a 

 needle, a lancet will answer the purpose *." 



The number of punctures ought not to exceed three, 

 which when made on a plane surface, should be about 

 two inches apart, so as to prevent an extension of in- 

 flammation from one to the other, as this would be 

 attended with serious inconvenience and unnecessary 

 suffering to the animal. It is better to have one in- 

 cision on either side of the abdomen, and a third on 

 the inner part of the thigh. The greatest care is re- 

 (juired in making the punctures ; for if deep, they are 

 certain to be succeeded by ulceration and sloughing of 



* Shcep-pox, p. 11. 



