164 MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



up to view the apothegm, " so the dam, so the offspring.*' 

 There must be good condition to sustain the mother in the 

 trying hour of lamb-birth ; and like good condition is equally 

 necessary to sustain the lamb subsequently, and impart to it 

 sound constitution, size, and thrift. 



The field chosen for the ewes to fold should be dry, free 

 from stumps, open ditches, and possess as level a surface as 

 possible, as in little hollows ewes are liable to be cast, which 

 is caused by lazily stretching themselves in sunny weather, 

 when in a lying posture. In this situation they will often 

 be found flat on their backs, and violently kicking the air, 

 without the power of recovery, until aided ; and, if unseen 

 by the shepherd, death will follow sometimes in a few hours. 



But perhaps no field affords that smoothness of surface to 

 prevent these too often fatal occurrences, and therefore the 

 duty devolves upon the shepherd of passing leisurely over 

 every part of the field, several times during the day, to guard 

 against them. But this duty must not be delayed until some 

 of the ewes have dropped their lambs ; he must commence his 

 career of watchfulness at least ten days before, for it is very 

 common with ewes that are in over good condition to be 

 found in this perilous situation some days before their time. 



Other duties obligatory upon the shepherd are lucidly set 

 forth by Mr. Youatt, as follows : 



'• The lamber should have with him his lamb-crook ; a bot- 

 tle of milk — ewes' milk if possible, and carried in his bosom 

 or in an inside pocket, that it may be kept warm ; some cords 

 to tie the legs of the ewes that he may have occasion to as- 

 sist or examine ; a little pot of grease or oil, to lubricate his 

 hand, if he should have occasion to introduce it into the womb 

 of any of the ewes ; a sharp knife, with a round or rather 

 curved extremity, should it be necessary to remove the lamb 

 piece-meal from the mother ; a piece of stout polished iron 

 rod, of the size of a goose quill, twelve inches in length, 

 and rounded at one end, somewhat like a button hook, in 

 order to remove from the womb a dead or divided fcetus ; 

 a small quantity of cordial, consisting of equal parts of bran- 

 dy and sweet spirit of nitre ; and a strong infusion of ergot 

 of rj-e. 



" The period of lambing having commenced, the attention 

 of the lamber should be increased. He should carefully ob- 

 serve every ewe that appears to be in labor. While she 

 walks about and does not exhibit any extraordinary degree of 



