294 OPEKATIVE SUEGEEY. 



accumulation of filth is also liable to cause fissures in the skin, 

 which become attacked by the fly. The tail may be severed by 

 the knife without any after treatment, or should it be preferable, 

 after 'cutting, the parts are seared with a red hot iron, which in- 

 stantly checks the hemorrhage. 



Ewes for self-evident reasons should always be docked even 

 if the wether lambs are allowed to go without. 



Spacing. 



This is the removal of the ovaries of the female, a counter- 

 part of the operation of castration of the male, and while it is 

 rarely performed on ewes, owing to the fact that their breeding 

 qualities are more to be valued than the slight improvement in 

 the mutton and facility to fatten which this operation is sup- 

 posed to confer, still as it is a common operation on other classes 

 of she 3tock, notably swine and cattle, and as beyond a doubt a 

 spayed female will take on flesh quicker and do better as a feeder 

 than one which is entire, which would be an advantage in fitting 

 ewes for exhibition in the fat stock class, we shall briefly de- 

 scribe here the modus operandi of the operation. 



Place the ewe on its back on an inclined plank, having as- 

 sistants to hold the subject securely in position; make an incis- 

 ion directly back of the umbilicus (navel) extending backwards 

 towards the mammae about two inches in length, cutting directly 

 through the skin and sub-cutaneous structures, exposing the lin- 

 ing of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum); pierce this by insert- 

 ing the knife at right angles to the body of the subject, and 

 widen the opening sufficiently to permit the insertion of the two 

 first fingers of the hand, by reaching backwards and slightly to 

 one side the horn of the uterus will be felt. This can be traced 

 forward until the ovary manifests itself, situated at the extrem- 

 ity of the cornua; bring the ovary to the surface and hold it 

 with one hand, employing the fingers of the other to trace and 



