CHAPTER VII. 

 LAMBING AND DISEASES ATTENDING IT. 



I. Pregnancy. 



1. Period of Gestation. 



The ewes are usually put in with the ram in November, 

 and give birth five months after service. 



By dusting a little red paint on the breast of the ram it 

 is an easy matter to tell which of the ewes have been served, 

 as the paint will be seen on their backs. 



2. Abortion. 



The term abortion is applied to cases in which delivery 

 takes place at least twenty days or more before the natural 

 time, which, as we have stated, is five months. 



Causes. — Abortions are of two classes, namely (a) Con- 

 tagious and (b) non-Contagious or accidental. 



Contagious abortions are the result of a bacteria germ, 

 which may be transmitted from an affected animal to another. 

 See Part III. 



Non-Contagious abortions are the result of accident, in- 

 jury or some unusual condition — change of temperature, ex- 

 posure to cold winds or rain, overfeeding, drinking excessive 

 quantities of cold water, eating certain herbs or corn fodder 

 which is covered with smut, giving stringent physic medicine, 

 slipping and being chased by dogs are the causes more fre- 

 quently met with. 



Treatment. — In ordinary cases rest and quiet in a warm, 

 comfortable stable is all that is necessary, recovery usually 

 being complete in a few days. 



For contagious abortion refer to the treatment described 

 for that of the cow, Part III. The diseases are so similar 

 that the same treatment should be followed. 



3. Lambing Signs. 



The bag of the young ewe begins to enlarge during about 

 the third month, while that of the older is about a month 

 later in showing signs of enlargement. This continues until 

 m 



