CASTRATING LAMBS. 595 



teen days old, to that of a nionth or six weeks. In some 

 districts it is deferred to a much later period. We would, 

 however, recommend it to be done early, as there is much 

 less danger of inflammation occurring at an early period 

 than there is at a later one. Attention must be paid to the 

 state of health of the animal at the time, as if weakly, or 

 labouring under any other disease, constitutional irritation 

 may ensue, and death is most likely to follow. 



This operation is usually performed by the shepherd. It 

 is executed by opening the scrotum or cod with a sharp 

 scalpel, and drawing out the testicles with the spermatic cord 

 attached to them. The arteries should be taken up, and 

 secured by fine threads. Some shepherds perform the opera- 

 ration with their teeth, but this is a barbarous practice and 

 should never be permitted, as it is more dangerous as well 

 as more painful to the animal. 



It is evident that this must be a painful and dangerous 

 operation, when not judiciously performed ; and some lambs 

 die on the day they are castrated. The second and third 

 days, however, are those on which it may be judged of the 

 probability of safely surviving it. This can be seen from 

 the degree of inflammation ; and it will be found that the 

 greatest mortality is on the third and fourth days, in conse- 

 quence of mortification, for which there is no remedy. 



Strict attention should be paid to the state of the weather 

 when castration is performed : the atmosphere should be dry, 

 but not too warm, and, if possible, the lambs which have 

 been gelded kept in a dry, quiet, and sheltered situation, 

 until the inflammation has subsided. If wet weather comes 

 on, it would be prudent to have them removed to a shed, or 

 barn, but not too many crowded into one place, as they 

 should have room to move about freely. The operation 

 should not be performed when the nights are frosty. 



