(104.) Sheep being about as liable as other animals to a variety of accidents, it is necessary that the shepherd should possess a competent knowledge of the means which art affords for the remedy of those mishaps. It is from a want of such knowledge that farmers are frequently led to slaughter valuable sheep, though only labouring under the effects of some commonplace disease or accident. If the animal is attended by a professional person, an expense is sure to be incurred nearly equal to the worth of the patient, and in so far as they endeavour to obviate this, by killing the sheep, they are free from blame; but why not rather contrive to save the cost of veterinary attendance, by making themselves conversant with its diseases, and able to prescribe for their own flocks, in which there can be no difficulty, as the remedies are, in the majority of cases, few, simple, and of easy application. In the surgical and medical management of flocks, much mystery has, as in other matters, all along existed; but that fantastic age is well nigh its close, and thanks to the spirit of candid inquiry now abroad, we may hope ere long to boast of valuable information in this department. The spread of correct ideas regarding the nature and treatment of accidents and diseases, has from first to last been prevented by the diffuseness of those who have written on the subject, and by their so clothing it in a mass of verbiage, as to render scarcely intelligible what would otherwise be easy of acquirement. To obviate the liability to a similar charge, the following observations are given as briefly as is consistent with a due regard to the importance of the subject. (105.) _Wounds._ All the wounds which can be inflicted may be classed under the heads of incised, punctured, and lacerated. An incised wound is one made by a cutting instrument, such as a knife or a piece of glass. Punctured wounds are those produced by sharp pointed bodies, such as pins or thorns. Lacerated wounds are those occasioned by blunt bodies, as the teeth of the dog, tearing rather than cutting the flesh. When a sheep has received any of these injuries, the following rules ought to be attended to, and in the order here recommended:-- 1st. Arrest the bleeding, if profuse, and likely to endanger life. 2d. Clip away the wool for a few inches around the injured part. 3d. Remove dirt or other foreign body from the wound. 4th. Bring the separated parts as nearly together as circumstances will at the moment permit, and retain them there by suitable apparatus.