DISEASES INCIDENT TO LAMBING. 239 



zinc in a pint of water, and a pledget of tow or lint dipped in a 

 mixture of one part of common (not fuming) nitric acid with 

 three parts of water, should be applied to the whole of the cank- 

 ered surface. This should be repeated frequently, until a cure is 

 made. 



LAMBING AND DISEASES CONNECTED WITH IT. 



The number of lambs raised in proportion to those that are 

 dropped is far less than it ought to be. Probably ten per cent of 

 the lambs annually dropped, are lost through negligence or want 

 of simple methods of protection. Many are lost through neglect 

 of the condition of the ewes. The lambing season is one that calls 

 for great patience on the part of the shepherd, rather than for 

 great skill. A well disciplined flock, well provided with shelter 

 and quiet retreats for the ewes, will raise a larger proportion of 

 lambs than a neglected one. Dogs about a flock at lambing time 

 are an unmitigated nuisance, and cause many losses. When the 

 lambs begin to drop it is not difficult to discover those ewes that 

 will come in, in twenty-four hours. The parts become red and 

 swollen, and the udder swells and fills^ It is at this period that 

 the ewes need close watching, both to discover anything that may 

 go wrong, and to render assistance when it is needed. If the ewes 

 have been carefully tended, there is rarelv any difficulty encoun- 

 tered that may not be overcome by simple measures, yet amongst 

 the most carefully tended flocks there will be some occasional 

 cases which will call for the treatment herein described as ap- 

 plicable to the disorders mentioned. 



There is rarely any necessity for manual assistance to the ewes 

 at lambing time. Sometimes in cases of protracted labor it will 

 be necessary for the shepherd to ascertain if the lamb is in proper 

 position, with the fore feet and head first ; if it is, the ewe may be 

 left alone with safetv. If the position is unnatural, help should 

 be given by an experienced shepherd. If no aid can be obtained, 

 it is dangerous for an inexperienced person to assist, lest he may 

 be too hasty and rough in his help. If the lamb is presented in 

 such a manner that it cannot be expelled, it should be gently 

 forced back again by some person with a small hand, the hand 

 being smeared with sweet-oil. It should then be gently brought 

 into such a position that the feet shall be presented first, with the 

 head lying upon them, and not doubled back. If the hind parts 

 are presented, the feet should be gently brought up after the lamb 



