CHAPTER VI. 

 ACCIDENTS. 



FOR general treatment of wounds, refer to Part II., 

 where these matters are fully dealt with. 



1. Broken Legs. 



Causes. — The apparently stupid characteristic possessed 

 by sheep generally of lying upon the road and remaining thus 

 until run over and injured is well known to all. The fact, 

 probably not so well known, that gravel retains the heat ob- 

 tained from the sun during the day much longer than the 

 adjoining grass accounts for this. The grass becoming cool 

 much more quickly soon causes a collection of dampness in 

 the form of dew, making it a much less comfortable bed. 



Treatment. — Should the fracture be so severe that points 

 of the splintered bone pierce the skin, it is better to kill it 

 at once and make use of the skin and carcass. There may be 

 a desire, however, because of its value to save it. This may 

 be done if the sheep be young and the chances are greater if 

 in good physical condition and the fracture slight. 



Set the bones to their proper position. Prepare a starch 

 bandage as follows: Saturate a long strip of cotton a couple 

 of inches wide in a fairly thick starch paste. Pull this strip 

 between the fingers and in this manner squeeze from it as 

 much of the starch as possible. It hardens more quickly and 

 will contain quite sufficient for the purpose. 



Apply this strip as a bandage, winding it fairly tight 

 around the broken portion of the leg, being sure to have the 

 bones in proper position. When this is done the leg must be 

 kept in position until the bandage has hardened, after which 

 it holds the broken bones in position. Allow it to remain 

 thus for a month or six weeks, during which time the sheep 

 must be kept as quiet as possible. 



Examine the leg frequently and should it irritate the leg 

 or be wound too tight, it should be changed. Remove it by 

 cutting it off as soon as the leg is being used naturally. 



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