THE SHEEP. 191 



as to form an almost insuperable obstruction to the passac^e of the 

 faeces. It likewise can scarcely be denied that the removal of the tail 

 very much improves the beauty of the animal, by the fullness and width 

 which it seems to impart to the haunches. 



The operation is a very simple one. An assistant holds the lamb 

 with its back pressing against his belly, and thus presenting the haunches 

 to the operator, who, with a knife, or a strong pair of scissors or forceps, 

 cuts it otf at the second or third joint from the rump. A few ashes are 

 then sprinkled on the wound — common flour would do as well, in order 

 to form a coagulum over the part and stop the bleeding. It is seldom 

 that the bleeding will continue long; but, if the lamb should appear to 

 be growing weak in consequence of the loss of blood, a piece of twine 

 tied tightly round the tail, immediately above the dock, will at once 

 arrest the hemorrhage ; the twine, however, must be removed twelve 

 hours afterward, otherwise some sloughing will ensue, and care must 

 likewise be taken that the incision is made precisely in the joint, other- 

 wise the wound will not heal until the portion of bone between the dock 

 and the joint above has sloughed away. 



Spaying. — A few weeks after castrating the spaying of the rejected 

 ewe-lambs will succeed, an operation which will materially contribute to 

 their increase of growth and disposition to fatten. It is singular that 

 this practice should be almost contined to Great Britain and to Italy, for 

 there can be no manner of doubt of the advantage of it. Daubcnton, 

 however, in his " Instructions to Shepherds," gives a useful account of 

 the manner in which it is best performed. 



At the age of six weeks, the ovaries ai-e grown sufficiently large to 

 be easily felt, and that is the time usually selected for the spaying, be- 

 ing immediately after the first formal examination of the flock. The 

 lamb is laid on her right side, near the edge of a table, with her head 

 hanging down by the side of the table; an assistant stretches out the 

 left hind-leg of the animal, and holds it in that situation, with liis left 

 hand grasping the shank; and in default of a second assistant, he also 

 liolds the two fore-legs, and the other hind-leg with his right hand. 

 The lamb being thus disposed, the operator, tightening the skin of the 

 part, makes an incision of an inch and a half in length, midway be- 

 tween the top of the haunch and the navel, and penetrating through 

 the skin ; another incision divides the muscles of the belly and the per- 

 itoneum. A careful operator will, perhaps, make three incisions, the 

 first through the skin, the second tlirough the abdominal muscles, and 

 the third through the peritoneum. lie then introduces his forefinger 

 into the abdominal cavity, in search of the left ovary, which is immedi- 

 ately underneath the incision ; and, having found it, he draws it gently 

 out. The two broad ligaments, and the womb and the right ov;ir\', 

 protrude at the same time. The operator cuts off the two ovaries, and 

 returns the womb and its dependencies; he then closes the womb by 

 means of two or three stitches through the skin, carefully avoiding the 

 abdominal muscles below; and, last of all, he rubs a little oil on the 

 v>'ound, or he does nothing more, but releases his patient. 



The lamb very probably will be unwilling, and perhaps will alto- 

 gether refuse to suck or to graze during the first day, but on the follow- 



