CHAPTER III. 
DISEASES PECULIAR TO RAMS. 
1. Inflammation of the Testicles. 
This is caused by an injury of some kind, such as the 
bunt of another sheep or a kick of some kind. 
Symptoms. — It is very painful. The ram walks stiflP. 
The bag is swollen and sore to handle. He eats little and 
lies down most of the time to relieve the testicles as much as 
possible. If the inflammation is allowed to run on the bag 
and testicles become blackened and mortified. It passes up 
the cords of the testicles into the belly and soon kills the ram. 
Treatment. — As soon as the trouble is noticed, separate 
him from the rest of the flock. Keep him in a quiet, cool 
place and poultice the bag with a hot poultice of half linseed 
meal and half bran. Change the poultice every three hours, 
and each time while changing the poultice bathe the bag 
with hot vinegar for a while before applying the next poul- 
tice. If the ram is fat give the following: 
Epsom Salts J4 pound. 
Laudanum ^ ounce or 2 dessertspoonfuls. 
Mix in half a pint of lukewarm water and give as a 
drench. Should the bag fester it is necessary to lance it. 
Press lightly upon it to ascertain a soft spot. When this 
condition is present it is fit to be lanced. Open at this point 
and allow the matter to discharge. Poultice until all the 
matter has escaped, but as soon as the inflammation has sub- 
sided poultice but half of the time. 
2. Castration. 
Throw the ram and have him held or tied securely. 
With a sharp knife make an incision lengthwise on the 
bag and sufficiently low to prevent the formation of a pocket 
after the operation and sufficiently large to admit the testicle. 
Pull the testicle through the opening thus made three or four 
inches and tie a strong string tightly round the spermatic 
cord to prevent bleeding. Leave the ends of the string to 
hang four or five inches from the knot so that when let go 
they hang from the bag. In a few days they rot off and fall 
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