770 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



STRAININa IN EWES AFTER LAMBINQ. 



In a lecture on the "Diseases of sheep," delivered in November, 1872, I referred to 

 most of the diseases to which sheep are liable. On this occasion I can refer to one or 

 two only. There is that fatal disorder, ''straining in ewes after lambing," as to which 

 I may say that in the spring of 1878 I made known the success which had followed the 

 treatment of ewes when affected with this disease by the use of carbolized oils, by which 

 an enormous amount of suffering and loss amongst ewes is prevented. Not only did the 

 Merton shepherd save every one of the ewes thus afflicted when we first adopted this 

 treatment, but the flock in the last few years has been entirely free from the disease, 

 which I think is wholly attributable to the free application of the carbolized oils when- 

 ever a case of difficult lambing has arisen. Since this treatment was made known by 

 me through the agricultural papers it has been tried by many flockmasters, and with 

 almost unvarying success. 



One of the leading physicians of Norwich, and at the present time mayor of that city 

 (Dr. Eade), was so struck with the success of the treatment that he tried it in two out 

 of five severe and dangerous cases of puerperal fever in women. The two patients so 

 treated recovered; the other three died. These cases, most interesting and important 

 (from many points of view), will be found reported in the British Medical Journal of 

 January 22, 1881, p. 116, in a paper contributed by Dr. Eade. It would take too much 

 time to enter into the particulars of this fatal disease and the method of its treatment. 

 For information oa these points I would refer you to some correspondence on the subject 

 published by the proprietors of the Norwich Mercury, at whose office copies may be ob- 

 tained. There you will find full directions for the preparation and use of these carbolized 

 oils. The utmost care must be taken in preparing the oils, which should be compounded 

 of the best ingredients. Failure here may lead to failure in result. Indeed, such is the 

 care required in the preparation that (though no doubt there are others) I myself know 

 only of one or two firms in England whose oils are perfectly satisfactory. 



TBEATMENT OF EWES IN LAMBING. 



A few brief general directions as to the management of ewes during lambing time may 

 be of future service to you. 



In the first place the shepherd should make it his practice to quietly walk among the 

 ewes, carefully noting those which show symptoms of lambing within a few hours, and 

 gently driving all such into a sheltered fold near the lambing yard, or into the yard 

 itself, so that, whether day or night, he will know where chiefly to direct his attention. 

 When the labor pains come on, and the lamb is believed to be in the right position, the 

 shepherd should not be in a hurry, but allow nature (the best of all midwives) to do 

 her own work. An experienced shepherd will never attempt to help a ewe until he sees 

 that there are signs of her (to use a shepherd's term) "giving up." Then assistance 

 may be rendered with advantage. 



The lamb wlien bora should be placed near the head of the mother, who, as a rule, 

 will perform her natural duty. When the ewe has done what is necessary by the lamb, 

 and has somewhat recovered from the fatigue and exhaustion of the labor, she should be 

 sparingly fed; at first with a mixture of good hay, chaff, bran, and crushed heavy oats. 

 Let it ever be remembered that the more judiciously and generously a ewe is fed after 

 having fully recovered from the lambing the better she will be able to nurse the lamb. 

 When the lambs are old enough to pick or nibble a few turnip tops, or a little young 

 grass, they should be allowed to run into a forward fold, where, after a little time, some 

 finely-crushed linseed cake, mixed with crushed heavy oats and a small quantity of fresh 

 bran, should be placed in low, covered troughs, so that they may eat a little of the mixed 

 food at pleasure. This kind of feeding should be continued, increasing the allowance of 

 mixed food as the lambs grow older and stronger. Of course experienced shepherds or 

 flockmasters will understand that it is desirable later on to throw out a few mangolds 

 which the lambs can pick over in the forward fold, the ewes taking what the lambs leave. 

 Perhaps it is unnecessary I should say that it is desirable for the mangolds to be some- 

 what withered by exposure to the sun and air before they are thus given to the ewes 

 and lambs. 1 know of no mangold so well suited for early feeding by ewes and lambs as 

 Button & Sons ' " Yellow Intermediate. ' ' We are so satisfied with it that we now grow 

 no other variety. Yv'lien the time arrives for weaning the lambs, which will be about 

 the 1st of J uly, preparations should be made to have a supply of coleseed or cabbages, 

 or a similar kind of food, to feed them upon at night, and during the day they should 

 be run out on clean, fresh grass; but on no account allow them to feed on grass growing 

 upon land which may have been fouled by being heavily sheep-fed. Grass growing on 

 'Buck land is pernicious to lambs, and should be carefully avoided. The evil effect may 

 act be observed until much harm has been done. The lambs should have a daily allow- 



