138 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XI. 



(24th of April), beyond which time they can 

 scarcely reckon upon more than two or three in a 

 hundred. 



The great care bestowed by the shepherd on 

 the breed of sheep, was attended with no less im- 

 portant results. They were twice shorn, and twice 

 brought forth lambs, in the course of a year *; — a 

 circumstance fully proved by modern experience, 

 whenever sufficient care is taken by the shepherd. 

 But though Diodorus is perfectly correct in this 

 part of his statement, he seems to be in error re- 

 specting the nature of the pasture on which they 

 were fed, when he suggests that the mere acci- 

 dental produce of the land after the inundation 

 sufficed for this purpose ; for it is far more reason- 

 able to suppose, that formerly, as at the present 

 day, they were supplied with particular food culti- 

 vated expressly for them; and from his referring to 

 the period of the inundation, we may suggest that 

 his remark was founded on the fact of their grow- 

 ing clover for the flocks and herds at that season, 

 as is still the custom in Egypt. 



Those who exercised the veterinary art were of 

 the class of shepherds. They took the utmost care 

 of the animals, providing them with proper food 

 which tliey gave them with the hand, and ])re 

 paring for them whatever medicine they required 

 which they forced into their mouths. Their me 

 dical aid was not confined to oxen and sheep 

 it extended also to the oryx, and otlier animals of 

 the desert, they tamed or bred in the farmyard t 



* Diotlor. i. 3G. f Vol. III. p. 8. ct scq. to p. bl. 



