HOW NOT TO DRENCE LAMBS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 19

HOW NOT TO DRENCE LAMBS.

A WARNING TO RHEEP-OWNERS. Mr 0. J. Reakcs, D.V.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., •writes in the Journal of Agriculture: “ A Government veterinary officer, who recently visitc-d a farm for the purpose of assisting tho owner in determining the cause of some mortality which had occured among lamlvs, makes the following remarks in his report upon tho matter: —‘ In conversation with Mr I learned that ho had been drenching the lamias with turpentine and linseed oil, and that nearly all—possibly all —of the deaths had occurred very shortly' after drenching; also that he had used a pewter syringe to drench with, and believed in doing it quickly, and with force.’ “ In these days it seems difficult to realise how any man could imagine that to force liquid medicine down the throat through tho medium of a syringe is a richt and proper way of administering it. It is an excellent way of forcing tho liquid into the windpipe and killing the patient, and I have no doubt but that, these lambs were in this wav killed by the owner. With sheep and 'lambs, as with other animal* liquid medicine should bo given slowly and carefully, a small quantity only being quietlv poured into the mouth at a time, an-1 care being taken to pour in no more until that is properly swallowed. The head sbeu’d b« held, by tho upper law only, slightly above the horizontal line ten re being taken not to compress the nostrils), and ’.he tongue left quire free.’’