THE AGE OF SHEEP AS US^DICATED BY THE TEETH. 587 



blood-letting is to be performed, tlie operator must hold the 

 sheep between his limbs, with the croup placed against a 

 wall to prevent him from getting backwards. Place the 

 left side of the jaws undermost, and seize the lower jaw in 

 such a way that the fingers come upon its right side, so as 

 to press above the trunk of the vein a small w^ay below 

 where the lancet is to be inserted. Make an incision 

 obliquely across the vein, where the trunk is largest, which 

 we have marked by letter a, plate xiii. fig. 4. This will be 

 distinctly felt through the skin. The pressure prevents the 

 flow of blood beyond the spot where the finger is applied, 

 and consequently must pass through the opening, as it can 

 find no other course. The oblique incision is found to 

 answer better than one made along the course of the vein, 

 or directly across it. To prevent the vein from shifting 

 while the lancet is inserted, it should be pierced as near to 

 the point of the finger as possible. 



In our figure above referred to it will be seen that the 

 trunk of the vein passes from under the lower jaw at 5, and 

 that its branches go along the soft portion of the cheek. 

 At c a small nerve takes an opposite course, passing over 

 the vein, and in bleeding care should be taken not to divide 

 it. Under this nerve there is a thick, fleshy muscle, which 

 is called the zigomaticus major, whose oflfice is to take a 

 principal part in moving the jaw during mastication. The 

 letter d marks the situation of another much thinner 

 muscle, beneath which the branches of the cheek-vein pass, 

 and lead to the corner of the mouth, and assist in giving 

 motion to the lips. 



ON THE AGE OF SHEEP AS INDICATED BY THE TEETH. 



The sheep, as well as all the other ruminating animals, 

 is destitute of the upper fore, or cutting-teeth, which are 



