Diseases of Sheep. 



341 



diately after lambing the ewe should be examined to see that all is 

 right," and if milk can readily be drawn from both teats there is no 

 danger to be apprehended ; but if, on the contrary, the passages 

 appear closed^ and the milk is drawn with difficulty, there is reason 

 to fear that it will coagulate in the udder and produce miliary 

 fever. The teats, in such case, should be well fomented with 

 warm water, and persevering efforts must be made with the hand, 

 well lubricated with lard, to draw off the milk. These efforts 

 will usually succeed, but, should the obstructions still continue, 

 recourse may l)e had to mechanical aid, and a small bodkin or knit- 

 ting-needle must be thrust up the passages of the teat, in order to 

 remove it. A more common case, however, of suppressed milk is 

 when the ewe having for a length of time been suckling twins ; one 

 of them dies, or is removed ; the remaining lamb will continue to 

 suck the teat to which it has been accustom.ed, and the other side 

 becomes distended with milk from the teat not being drawn. 

 The shepherd's attention must always be given to this circum- 

 stance, for, if relief is not afforded, inflammation will often ensue. 

 The same will occur when one of the teats has been sore, and the 

 ewe prevents the lamxb from sucking on that side. 



After weaning the ewe must be placed on the shortest feed, 

 and milked by the shepherd twice or three times at intervals of a 

 day or two. If, after every precaution, inflammatory symptoms 

 show themselves, — ^and the difficulty of walking experienced by 

 the ewe is one of the most decided, — fomentation long continued 

 is the best remedy, and the camphorated mercurial ointment de- 

 scribed in the Appendix (No. 11) will be beneficially applied to 

 the udder, if well rubbed in. If the teats are at the same time 

 drawn with tenderness, matter will probably be discharged from 

 them, and relief speedily obtained. When the udder appears 

 distended, and yet the ewe will not allow the lamb to suck, the 

 shepherd will find that the teats are sore, and he should wash 

 them well with warm water, and rub in the Goulard ointment 

 mentioned in the Appendix (No. 12). The same application will 

 be found serviceable to the lamb if there is any scabbiness about 

 the mouth. 



I shall conclude with a very few brief remarks on the manage 

 ment of the lamb. 



In cold and wet weather, and particularly after a difficult 

 labour, the lamb will often be found in a half- inanimate state, or 

 exhausted and weak. When this is the case the ewe should 

 immediately be caught, and the teats milked into the lamb's 

 mouth, the shepherd using his best endeavours to m.ake it swallow 

 as much as possible. It should also be well rubbed with straw, 

 particularly the legs, in order to promote circulation. If he suc- 

 ceeds in restoring it to its feet, so as to stand alone, a recovery is 



