356 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



part with the nose and licking it. But in some cases this is not 

 effective, and the shepherd should not fail to inspect the young 

 things for the first few days after birth, and if necessary break 

 this crust and open the passage. A little vaseline or sweet oil 

 applied will prevent a recurrence of this trouble. 



INFLAMMATION OF TESTICLE. 



This disorder is by no means uncommon. It is most common 

 in the breeding season, when the ram may be overworked, and 

 it is frequently the result of accident. 



The symptoms are quite apparent, being a swelling of the 

 glands so that the animal moves with a straddling gait, the tes- 

 ticle, or both of them, is enlarged and tender to the touch, and 

 is frequently drawn up and let down again. 



The treatment is to give cooling purgatives, as Epsom salts, 

 in four ounce doses; to foment the scrotum with hot water; 

 then applying extract of belladonna or laudanum. If the disease 

 occurs in the breeding times of course the ram is to be separated 

 from the flock and should not be used again the same season. 



CASTRATION OF TESTICLES. 



The castration of the young rams intended for wethers, is 

 sometimes apt to lead to serious results and even the loss of the 

 animal operated upon. All risk of this is avoided by performing 

 this necessary operation while the lamb is young, and at about 

 two or four weeks old. At this time the organs are undeveloped, 

 and the operation is a simple one without risk of complications 

 by inflammation of the cord, or difficulty of healing of the wound. 



For a lamb of this age, all that is needed is to take the 

 animal under the left arm, holding the scrotum with the left hand, 

 between the fore finger and the thumb, then with a pair of sharp 

 shears cut off the scrotum with its contents. Apply a little finely 

 powdered bluestone (sulphate of copper) or a little fine sugar, 

 and the business is concluded in less time that this line is written. 



With older animals more care is to be exercised, as the organ 

 is developed to a far greater extent. With three or four month 

 old lambs intended for wethers the operation is thus performed. 

 An assistant holds the animal firmly in any convenient position, 

 preferably on a bench about three feet high. The assistant holds 

 the hind legs firmly, drawing them forward. The operator then 

 with the left hand gathers the loose skin at the bottom of the scro- 

 tum by the fingers and with a round-edged, bladed castrating knife, 

 cuts off the whole bottom of the bag at one cut. The testicles 

 are, then pressed out at this free opening, and the cords are separ- 

 ated by scraping them apart close to the body, so that when the 

 ends are released they will be drawn into the body. It is of great 

 importance that the hands should be clean, having been washed 

 with carbolic soap before beginning the operation, and they 

 should be dipped in a sterilizing solution of bi-chloride of mer- 

 cury after each operation, thus avoiding probable resulting in- 

 flammation after the operation, and this is the only source of 



