292 Sheep-Farming 



only treatment I have ever found that saved a Iamb 

 once attacked was heroic bleeding, and that has not 

 always been effective. Feeding ewes lime or bicar- 

 bonate of soda has been heralded as a preventive 

 by some, but I have known heavy losses in flocks to 

 which these have been fed, while others not so treated 

 escaped any loss. I know of no preventive except 

 scanty feeding of the ewe, and no reliable cure. I 

 recommend bleeding. Cut off the tail, if it has not 

 already been done, or open the vein on the inside of 

 the fore leg by making a slit lengthwise in it and press- 

 ing the finger upon the vein between opening and the 

 heart to force the flow of blood. A half pint may be 

 drawn from an eight weeks' old lamb. 



Calculi, gravel. — Mature rams that are highly 

 fed, also young lambs, occasionally suffer from an 

 accumulation of lime granules in the urethra, usually 

 at the double curve where the retractor muscle 

 attaches. This is just above the rear attachment of 

 the scrotum. Careful manipulation with old rams 

 may effect movement of the calculi so that they will 

 pass out, though usually a surgical operation is 

 necessary. The calculi should be located, then an 

 incision made lengthwise of the urethra directly 

 over the obstruction and as small as its removal will 

 permit. If skillfully performed, and with antiseptic 

 precautions, recovery may be expected in a fair pro- 

 portion of cases. Recovery is more certain when the 

 opening can be made in such a position that the 



