ON EWES. 81 



Q. What are the bad positions, which commonly 

 prevent lambs from being discharged from the ma- 

 trix ? 



A. 1st. The bad position of the head, which in the 

 lamb, instead of presenting the end of the muzzle to 

 the orifice of the matrix, presents some part of the top 

 or sides of the head, whilst the end of the muzzle is 

 turned aside or behind. 



2d. The bad position of the fore legs, which in- 

 stead of being extended before in a manner, that the 

 feet should be found at the orifice of the matrix, with 

 the muzzle, are bent under the neck, or are extend- 

 ed behind. 



3d. The bad position of the ombilical or navel 

 cord, when it passes before one of the legs. 



Q. What ought the shepherd to do, in order to 

 change these bad positions ? 



A. Whenever he perceives at the orifice of the 

 matrix any other part of the head than the muzzle, 

 he should endeavour to push back the head, and draw 

 the muzzle to the opening of the matrix. The shep- 

 herd should oil his fingers, to perform this operation, 

 without injuring the ewe or lamb. If he should not 

 observe the feet preceding, he should find them, and 

 draw them to the orifice of the matrix : if the fore legs 

 are stretched behind, he should endeavour to bring 

 out the head, and afterwards attempt to draw out the 

 two fore legs together, or one after the other, to pre- 

 vent the shoulders from being too great an obstacle to 

 the discharge of the lamb. If the fore legs should 

 remain stretched behind, it will be necessary to draw 

 11 



