ESSAY ON SPAYING EWES. 
689 
are the most advantageous for this operation. The spring is de¬ 
cidedly preferable to autumn, the ewes being lower in condition, 
and not so liable to inflammation : in this season, also, an opera¬ 
tion is more easily performed, which is always a circumstance wor¬ 
thy of notice; for whenever the operator accomplishes his purpose 
with facility, there is always a commensurate degree of allevi¬ 
ation to the subject. 
In spring, the month of April is to be preferred, as the wea¬ 
ther begins to be mild, and fresh grasses to spring up; both of 
which tend to give the operation a successful issue. In autumn, 
the best month is September, the weather being moderate, and 
all danger of the fly, which produces maggot on them, avoided. 
Maggots, in many places, are very troublesome and destruc¬ 
tive ; sheep are very liable to them from about the middle of May 
to the middle of August. Grasses, after a crop of hay, oats, 
barley, &c., are also in fine order for them in September, and 
especially for those brought off coarse, hilly pasture. Grasses of 
this kind have always a laxative and sometimes a purgative effect. 
The same season is very proper for operating upon lambs, but 
they ought to be weaned previously, and put among young grass. 
I have seen them thrive very rapidly under this treatment. 
Ewes may be spayed at any age, but the best age is from 
lambs up to a year old. 
The advantages of spaying and castrating sheep are so obvi¬ 
ous, that it may seem superfluous to point them out. To the 
grazier it is a great source of profit; for were these operations not 
performed, the sheep, instead of feeding contentedly on their 
pastures, and growing fat for the market, would go on multiply¬ 
ing their species to infinity, holding the sage economical opinions 
of Mr. Mai thus in the most profound contempt, It is not 
enough that the males and females are separated. This, no 
doubt, prevents the possibility of progeny, but it never insures 
the owner of their speedily becoming fit for the butcher. It is 
universally observed, that, after spaying and castrating, sheep 
are much more easily fattened, and their flesh is more juicy, and 
of a firmer and finer texture; and that the fleece is proportionably 
improved. The value of one sheep is thus greatly increased, 
and consequently, where great flocks are kept fattening for the 
market, the profits must be veiy considerable. Among the ad¬ 
vantages enumerated, I ought not to omit, that they fatten in a 
shorter period upon a barer pasture, and consequently upon 
much less food than those which are allowed to remain in their 
natural state. Against these advantages, only two disadvantages 
can be placed, viz., the expense of the operation, and the deaths 
which it may cause. These, however, are not more than a parti- 
