THE AGE OF SHEEP AS INDICATED BY THE TEETH. 587 
blood-letting is to be performed, the operator must hold the 
sheep between his limbs, with the croup placed against a 
wall to prevent him from getting backwards. Place the 
left side of the jaws undermost, and seize the lower jaw in 
such a way that the fingers come upon its right side, so as 
to press above the trunk of the vein a small way below 
where the lancet is to be inserted. Make an incision 
obliquely across the vein, where the trunk is largest, which 
we have marked by letter a, plate xiii. fig. 4. This will be 
distinctly felt through the skin. The pressure prevents the 
flow of blood beyond the spot where the finger is applied, 
and consequently must pass through the opening, as it can 
find no other course. The oblique incision is found to 
answer better than one made along the course of the vein, 
or directly across it. To prevent the vein from shifting 
while the lancet is inserted, it should be pierced as near to 
the point of the finger as possible. 
In our figure above referred to it will be seen that the 
trunk of the vein passes from under the lower jaw at b, and 
that its branches go along the soft portion of the cheek. 
At c a small nerve takes an opposite course, passing over 
the vein, and in bleeding care should be taken not to divide 
it. Under this nerve there is a thick, fleshy muscle, which 
is called the zigomaticus major , whose office is to take a 
principal part in moving the jaw during mastication. The 
letter d marks the situation of another much thinner 
muscle, beneath which the branches of the cheek-vein pass, 
and lead to the corner of the mouth, and assist in giving 
motion to the lips. 
ON THE AGE OF SHEEP AS INDICATED BY THE TEETH. 
The sheep, as well as all the other ruminating animals, 
is destitute of the upper fore, or cutting-teeth which are 
