THU SIIKKP. 
191 
as to form an almost insuperable obstruction to the passage of the 
faeces. It likewise can scarce!}’ be denied that the removal of the tail 
very much improves the beauty of the animal, by the fullness and width 
which it seems to impart to the haunches. 
The operation is a very simple one. An assistant holds the lamb 
with its back pressing against his belly, and thus presenting the haunches 
to the operator, who, with a knife, or a strong pair of scissors or forceps, 
cuts it off at the second or third joint from the rump. A few ashes are 
then sprinkled on the wound — common flour would do as well, in order 
to form a coagulum over the part and stop the bleeding. It is seldom 
that the bleeding will continue long; but, if the lamb should appear to 
be growing weak in consequence of the loss of blood, a piece of twine 
tied tightly round the tail, immediately above the dock, will at once 
arrest the hemorrhage ; the twine, however, must be removed twelve 
hours afterward, otherwise some sloughing will ensue, and care must 
likewise be taken that the incision is made precisely in the joint, other- 
wise the wound will not heal until the portion of bone between the dock 
and the joint above has sloughed away. 
Spaying, — A few weeks after castrating the spaying of the rejected 
ewe-lambs will succeed, an operation which will materially contribute to 
their increase of growth and disposition to fatten. It is singular that 
this practice should be almost confined to Great Britain and to Italy, for 
there can be no manner of doubt of the advantage of it- Daubenton, 
however, in his “ Instructions to Shepherds,” gives a useful account of 
the manner in which it is best performed. 
At the age of six weeks, the ovaries are grown sufficiently large to 
be easily felt, and that is the time usually selected for the spaying, be- 
ing immediately after the first formal examination of the flock. The 
lamb is laid on her right side, near the edge of a table, with her head 
hanging down by the side of the table; an assistant stretches out the 
left hind-leg of the animal, and holds it in that situation, with his left 
hand grasping the shank ; and in default of a second assistant, he also 
holds the two fore-legs, and the other hind-leg with his right hand. 
The lamb being thus disposed, the operator, tightening the skin of the 
part, makes an incision of an inch and a half in length, midway be- 
tween the top of the hannch and the navel, and penetrating through 
the skin ; another incision divides the muscles of the belly and the per- 
itoneum. A careful operator will, perhaps, make three incisions, the 
first through the skin, the second through the abdominal muscles, and 
the third through the peritoneum. He then introduces his forefinger 
into the abdominal cavity, in search of the left ovary, which is immedi- 
ately underneath the incision ; and, having found it, he draws it gently 
out. The two broad ligaments, and the womb and the right ovary, 
protrude at the same time. The operator cuts oft’ the two ovaries, and 
returns the womb and its dependencies ; he then closes the womb by 
means of two or three stitches through the skin, carefully avoiding the 
abdominal muscles below ; and, last of all, he rubs a little oil on the 
wound, or he does nothing more, but releases his patient. 
I he lamb very probably will be unwilling, and perhaps will alto- 
gether refuso to suck or to graze during the first day, but on the follow- 
