Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-04-27

operation be performed late in the spring,
the wound is likely to become 'tly-blown"
the larvae Of the fly in any case, retarding
the healing process, and in this condition
especially, extensive inflammation and death
from a combination of causes would be the
almost inevitable result. The operation
should be so performed that the wound may
in a very short time heal up. This may be
done in the following manner: An assist
ant should hold the lamb while the operator,
grasping the tail with the left hand, with
the thumb of the right hand on the tail, at
the point of one inch more or less from the
root of the tail, and the knife blade under
and opposite the thumb, cut through the
bone, then quickly raise the thumb; and at
the same time turn the edge of the knife a
little and cut through the soft parts on the
upper side of the tail, so as to form a kind
of a flap, with which to cover the stump.
BY taking the stump between the thumb
and finger the artery should be compressed
until the bleeding ceases. The soft parts
thus being longer than the bone, the stamp
will soon heal over.
To facilitate this, or in other words, to- do
all that should be done, one, two, or three
stitches may be used to bring the flaps or
edges of upper and under sides of the cut
surface together. This will prevent a recur-
renee of the bleeding from slight cause, and
the cut surface being in contact will unite in
a few days without further attention. BY
having a "sheep-buck," as described by V.
f. Richmond, in National Live Stock Journal
believe-into which to lay the lamb on
its back, you can manage it without All as
sistant. The sheep-buck may be described
as a very large "wood-buck," planked up
on each side so that it will hold the sheep,
and prevent it from turning over when
placed in it On it's back. You should then
with the left hand hold the end of the tail,
but should not pull so as to stretch the soft
may be donaaSby one sweep of the knife
downward, tlidpassues by their own contract
ility will draw up, leaving the end of the
bone protrucing to a greater Or less extent.
This could BIO renaadiod, however, 10y using
q pair of sharp nippers for the purpose, or
by strong scissors or shears, by which to
cut off the bone again. The artery should
be compressed as before described, until
bleeding ceases, when the lamb may be
turned loose, leaving the wound to heal by
granulations, if the operation is performed
early in the season. These remarks are
frightening out far beyond my intention
when [ began, but if you will further indulge
me | will allude to one more point of inter-
est connected with the subject: which is the
time when the operation should be perform
ed. This should be done before the lamb is I
twp weeks old. Some recommend cutting
the tail OFT when the lamb is one day old. I
II The lamb is strong and the weather favor
abb, this MAY not be too young. If you
nOhce the taiA bleeding it should be carefully
dole at once, or without delay. This acct
deIt is more likely to occur among high
braslambs, whose tails, from. the point usu-
ally selected to amprtate down, is %attenuat-
ed md very TENDER. and if stepped or. by
theeWe, so. bruises and lacerates it as To
cause bleeding, which is. very injurious to-,
thevery young lamb; and if the removal
OF Y atall be Neglected a few days, it be-
conesmf1amed and swelled to an extent of
sev1ra1 inches, and.if the life of the lamb do
notsuceunab, modification of the affected
par sometimes ensues, followed. by slough
ingand finally dropping of the tail. Here
natr re does in, long time what should have
pee done in amoment with the knife. The
exat age of the lamb, when to- perform. the ]
opeatlon will depend upon several contin-
genles, which the good Judgment of the