BLOOD-LET I ING. 



157 



beauty of the horns. The risk is always in proportion 

 to the age, therefore no great length of time ougHt ever 

 to elapse from the period of birth to that of the opera- 

 tion. A large flock of ewes and lambs should never 

 be collected preparatory to cutting, as the latter, from 

 the excitement and crowding, are less likely to recover 

 from the operation. It is much better to take up a 

 small number so soon as they are ready. Instead of 

 driving them about in attempts to secure them, it will 

 be safer to station a person at a division of the fold, 

 who may lay hold of them individually as they are 

 made to pass through slowly. The best method of 

 cutting is to grasp the bag containing the testicles with 

 the left hand, so as to tighten the skin, and push them 

 forward, after which an incision may be made through 

 the skin at the end of the bag, large enough to permit 

 the stones to pass. They may then be removed either 

 by cutting or tearing ; the latter plan, however, is the 

 better, as there is little risk of bleeding, which is almost 

 sure to prove troublesome if the former be adopted. At 

 this time a portion of the tail ought to be removed, if 

 it has not been done at an earlier period, as a remedy 

 for pinding. The bleeding will serve to lessen the 

 danger consequent on the previous operation. When 

 all have been operated on, the ewes may be allowed to 

 find their lambs, and the whole conducted quietly to 

 their pasture. 



(117.) Blood-letting. In describing this operation, 

 too much stress is always laid on the importance of 

 opening particular veins, or divisions of a vein, in cer- 

 tain diseases. Such directions are altogether unneces- 

 Bury, as i7 matters not from what part of the animal 



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