DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 221 



precautions. With older lambs the green castrator's ointment 

 is used in the teeth of the clams as well as upon the wounds of the 

 scrotum before releasing the animal. When rams are castrated 

 the risk is considerable. There is a disposition to clotting and 

 blood-poisoning from the presence of the decomposing mass. To 

 avoid this, many operators divide the purse with the hot iron, 

 and do not employ a knife at all, and freely dress with the verdigris 

 ointment alluded to as castrator's ointment. It is made as follows : 

 Verdigris, one ounce ; Venice turpentine, three ounces ; lard, 

 ten ounces. The lard and turpentine are melted together at a 

 low heat, and the verdigris stirred in while cooling. 



Troubles with the penis will be found under diseases of the 

 urinary organs. 



ABORTION. 



This may occur as the result of hounds running through the ewe 

 flock, or dogging, or any other source of fright, and quickly follows 

 the event. This sporadic or accidental abortion or premature 

 lambing may affect a large number of ewes, and at the same time 

 within a few days. 



INFECTIOUS ABORTION. 



The infectious variety takes toll here and there at different 

 times and at various periods of pregnancy, and there is no history 

 of fright or accident. 



Symptoms are much the same in both, and individual treatment 

 of little avail ; the great thing to be done is to arrest its spread 

 by early separation of aborters and all suspects, and, if housed, 

 by disinfection and removal. It must not be forgotten that the 

 tup may be the means of spreading the trouble. 



PARTURITION TROUBLES. 



Difficult lambing is due to a variety of causes. Some of them 

 beyond our control, and generally recognised too late, as when 

 water-bellied flocks have been fed on too many turnips or other 

 roots, and the ewes are debilitated from this or other causes such 

 as parasitism. The breeding flock should be kept in fair condition 

 not fat and not poor, and, above all, not debilitated. 



E VERSION OF THE VAGINA. 



This happens often before lambing, and is mistaken for coming out 

 of the womb a thing impossible without the ejection of the lamb. 

 It may be caused by a water-bellied condition and pressure within 

 which the weakened parts cannot sustain, or it may be a symptom 

 of the abortion bacillus at work. 



It is often possible both to repose it and to keep it in place by 



Q 



