Diseases occurring after Parturition in Coics and Sheep. 575 



extract the calf, it is very rarely indeed tlmt an ewe is either 

 slaiijrhtered or suffered to die with the lamb in the uterus. 



The symptoms after these operations are usually great pros- 

 tration of strength^ the animal is unwilling to rise, in a few 

 hours she begins to breathe quickly, the ears, nose, udder, and 

 legs are cold, the external genitals are swollen and intensely red, 

 there is a bloody serous discharge from the vagina : as the dis- 

 ease progresses the breathing becomes panting, she throws her- 

 self prostrate on her side, the paunch is filled with gas, the 

 extremities and udder are deathly cold, the blood-vessels on the 

 surface of this last are filled with congested blood appearing of a 

 dark blue colour, the genitals have now also become cold, and 

 the colour is changed to a purple, the head is drawn back towards 

 the spine, and^ after a few convulsive struggles, she expires. 

 Before noticing the treatment of these cases^ it will perhaps be 

 advisable again to refer to the duties of the lamber. When an 

 evie separates herself from the others, and is evidently about to 

 lamb, no long time should elapse before the shepherd satisfies 

 himself if this act have been accomplished ; and if it have not, he 

 should, with gentleness, catch her, and ascertain if there be any 

 presentation, that is, if any portion of the lamb has advanced 

 into the vaginal passage ; if it has, he should further ascertain if 

 it be coming in a natural position, v/ith the head and fore feet 

 first ; if so, he may leave her again to herself, and, provided he 

 have made the examination with care and tenderly, no possible 

 harm can accrue ; but if the presentation be a false one he 

 should at once proceed to facilitate delivery, and, if he be inex- 

 pert at the matter, no time should be lost in useless manipula- 

 tions, but the assistance of an experienced operator should be 

 immediately obtained. After delivery, a small quantity of di- 

 gestive ointment or liniment should be introduced into the ca\ity 

 of the vagina : however much theoretical deductions would lead 

 to condemnation of this custom, yet practical experience proves 

 the benefit of its adoption ; and this may be accounted for from 

 the great tendencey every disturbance of the system in sheep has 

 to assume a typhoid or gangrenous nature, as the case mav be. 



Almost every shepherd has his particular nostrum to be 

 applied in this way, but no better can be used than the black 

 oils so frequently referred to in this treatise. If great force has 

 been used, or the labour have been long protracted, and there 

 is much consequent exhaustion, half a pint of oatmeal gruel with 

 a gill of sound beer warmed, and from two to four drams of 

 laudanum, should be administered, and repeated at intervals of 

 three or four hours, as the case may require ; the same quantities 

 of nitric ether being substituted for the laudanum if the pain is 

 not so violent, and the animal seem to rally a little. But if the 



