PKEVENTION OF ROT. 21l 



by the late Mr Beattie of Muckledale, and published 



the 3d vol. of the Highland Societi/s Transactions, 



The first thing to be observed," says Mr Beattie, *' is 



in the spring-, when they are dropping their lambs. A 



sound ewe, in good order, drops a lamb covered with 



a thick and yellow slime, which the ewe licks off it, 



and the rule is, the sounder and the higher the condition 



the ewe is in, the darker and thicker will be the slime ; 



ut when they observe a ewe drop a lamb covered with 



in watery bubbles, and very white, they note her 



down as unsound." 



" About the month of September, when they intend 

 to dispose of their draught ewes, they put all their 

 sheep into a fold, and draw them by the hand, that is, 

 they catch them all, viz. the ewes they design to sell 

 any of, and clapping their hand upon the small of the 

 back, they rub the flesh backwards and forwards be- 

 een their fingers and thumb and the ends of the short 

 ibs : if the flesh be solid and firm, they consider her as 

 sound ; if they find it soft and flabb}'', and if, when they 



tub it against the short ribs, it ripples, as we term it, 

 hiat is, a sort of crackling is perceived, as if there were 

 rater or blubber in it, they are certain she is unsound. 

 This is the most certain of all symptoms, but is not to 

 be discerned with any degree of certainty but by aiv 

 experienced hand ; for although, as 1 have here related 

 it, it seems a very simple affair, and easily acquired, 

 yet it is well known that many shepherds, who have 

 followed sheep all their lives, never arrived at any thing 

 like certainty in judging by the hand, whilst men of 

 superior skill will seldom be mistaken, and will draw by 

 DO other rule. Yet still it must be acknowledged that 



Da( 



