GENERAL ACCOUNT OP THE SHEEP. 127 



fore-flanks ; it invariably stands on short fore-legs, walks with 

 <3ifficulty, and carries its head low. On the other hand, when 

 the chines or shoulders are well thrown into the back, and the 

 sheep has well-sprung top ribs and long hind-quarters, while 

 the flesh and fat are evenly distributed, the animal stands well 

 upon its fore-legs, and has an easy and graceful deportment. 



If the pure breeds are crossed, good results may accrue. 

 Furthermore, by judicious and repeated crossing, most valuable 

 breeds may be established. Warmth is much more important in 

 the case of sheep than is generally recognised. Owners of flocks 

 ought to take great care that their sheep are fairly warm; 

 but, at the same time, if they are kept at all under cover, there 

 should always be a continual supply of good air. The ventila- 

 tion ought to be well attended to. In selecting sheep for breeding, 

 those provided with a wide and open chest ought to be chosen, 

 whereas those animals whose chests are contracted should be 

 avoided. Excessive feeding is to be guarded against. It is 

 advisable to keep the sheep at an even temperature, so far as may 

 be possible, and it is very wise to beware of clipping sheep at too 

 early a date, for the sudden loss of wool is apt to be injurious. 

 What the breeder should set before himself is to produce sheep 

 which are at once symmetrical in form, robust, and docile. 



After this brief introduction, we purpose to deal with all the 

 diseases of the sheep, each in due course ; and we hope to give 

 our readers many practical hints from time to time. 



At the present day a great deal of the management of the 

 disorders of sheep is carried out by the shepherds, who give 

 unremitting attention to their sheep, attention commonly beyond 

 all praise, and recalling the beautiful and emphatic words and 

 similes of Scripture. It is no unusual thing to hear that the 

 shepherd has been up all night tending his sickly charges. His 

 small stock of remedies is freely used. The resources of science 

 are not at his command, and hence it happens that mistakes may 

 be made. There are many fatal diseases (e.g. that called par- 

 turient septic8emia, which often makes such havoc among ewes 

 at the lambing season) which are readily amenable to careful 

 management if taken in hand in time, albeit that in this case, as 

 in many others, prevention by means of isolation, antiseptic 

 measures, care and cleanliness, must be looked upon as better 

 than cure. 



