244 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL 



sharp chisel is held by the right hand upon the tail, below the 

 fingers, and two inches from the rump ; a boy gives the chisel a 

 smart rap with a light mallet, and the tail is severed at one stroke 

 with a smooth cut which leaves the bone io a good condition to 

 heal quickly. A pinch of powdered copperas may be placed on 

 the stump of the tail to stanch any bleeding, and to keep off flies. 



Fractures of the limbs sometimes occur through neglect to let 

 down bars when sheep are entering or leaving a fold or field, or 

 through other accidents. These are easily repaired by bringing 

 the broken ends of the bone together in the proper position, and 

 binding the limbs in splints of wood. The splints should be 

 wrapped with strips of cloth to prevent them from chafing the 

 limbs, and the bandage should be made secure, but not so tight as 

 to interfere with the circulation. The bandage should be worn three 

 or four weeks, and if occasionally examined, there will be no need 

 to shut up the patient from the rest of the flock. An excellent 

 splint is made by soaking coarse brown paper in water and wrap- 

 ping it around the broken limb and then binding it with bandages 

 of muslin. When the paper dries a very firm support is given if 

 sufficient is used. 



Wounds, either punctured, incised, or lacerated, may occur from 

 a variety of causes. When a sheep is wounded, the first thing to 

 be done is to wash the wound with a soft cloth or sponge and 

 warm water. If blood flows freely from an important artery, and 

 it cannot be stanched by the use of brown sugar or powdered cop- 

 peras, the bleeding end of the artery should be sought, and twisted 

 two or three times, which will usually stop the flow. A sheep 

 will rarely bleed to death, except from a wound which severs the 

 arteries or veins of the throat. It may faint from loss of blood, 

 and the flow may then, or soon afterwards, stop. If the wound 

 is a clean cut with smooth edges, it should be closed, the 

 wool being clipped around it, and two or more stitches taken 

 through the skin at the edges, by which they may be kept together. 

 The stitch should be passed through the skin in two places directly 

 opposite each other on either side of the wound; the thread 

 should then be tied tightly enough to keep the edges in contact, 

 but no more, and the ends cut off. Other similar stitches are to 

 be made, and the wound is dressed upon the surface by smearing 

 it with an ointment of tar and powdered blue vitriol. If the 

 wound is punctured and deep, it should be dressed by injecting 

 with a syringe a few drops of compound tincture of benzoin, and 

 inserting in it a plug of lint or tow dipped in the same. This will 



