Spring Management of the Flock 189 



Still-born lambs. — When a ewe has been carrying 

 dead lambs for some time, her head droops and her 

 eye has a dull appearance; she seems feverish and 

 refuses food, and there is a watery discharge attended 

 by a very oflfensive smell. Everything is in an un- 

 natural state, and the lamb is very much swollen. 

 When it is taken away, it is usually wrapped in a 

 putrid and oflfensive fetal covering. In all cases 

 where the delivery has been difficult or when dead 

 lambs have been removed, the conditions are favor- 

 able for the ewe to be attacked by inflammation. 

 With a view to checking this, a small quantity of 

 carbolized oil or the creolin solution should be injected 

 into the womb, and two drachms of laudanum given 

 internally with two spoonfuls of linseed oil. This 

 should be repeated if the inflammation does not sub- 

 side. It is advisable to remove from the rest of the 

 flock such ewes as have had dead lambs. Feed them 

 carefully, and in severe cases it will be well to let them 

 have oatmeal or flaxseed gruel three times a day, 

 made with a pint of warm milk. Do not allow such 

 ewes to drink much cold water. 



After treating ewes with this trouble, the shepherd 

 should be careful to wash and disinfect his hands 

 in a two per cent solution of carbolic acid or the creo- 

 lin solution. 



Removal of the after-birth. — When the delivery 

 has been normal, the after-birth or placenta generally 

 comes away with or shortly after the lamb. In 



