CARE OF THE SHEARED SHEEP. 291 



dreadful of all causes of death. It is accompanied by blood 

 poisoning, of which the results are most painful boils and 

 carbuncles appearing all over the body, and which produce 

 such severe shock to the sufferer, that death is almost cer- 

 tain. Recovery is rare, and the sufferings of the unfortunate 

 victim of the ignorant or thoughtless owner of the dead 

 sheep, are so severe as to be a caution to all concerned, never 

 'to touch a sheep dead of this disease except with a long pole, 

 as the saying is, to turn it into a deep hole dug on the spot 

 where it is buried safely. But all contact of the hands with 

 the carcass is to be most carefully avoided. 



CAKE OF THE SHEARED SHEEP. 



As our shearing time occurs in a favorable season of the 

 year, but little need be said as to the care of the newly-shorn 

 flock. Necessarily some thought is to be given to this, in the 

 way of protection against unfavorable weather. Warm rain 

 is not hurtful, but rather the opposite. Cold rain is to be 

 avoided, and if it happens, the sheep should be sheltered 

 for a short time until they have become used to their 

 thin Summer clothing. The English shepherds smear the 

 sheep with some kind of cheap grease, mostly the waste but- 

 ter purchased at a low price from the dealers. We might 

 say with some sort of truth that there is an abundant supply 

 of this article to be procured here, as well as in other coun- 

 tries, and if such waste stuff might be thought desirable to 

 shed the rain from the bared sheep, it would not cost much 

 to procure and use it. Cuts that have been made should be 

 treated with some antiseptic ointment, or tar, either will be 

 advisable, as a protection against the flies, which might 

 blow the sheep and cause serious trouble. The application 

 will tend to the quick -healing of any wounds that may 

 have been given in the shearing. 



