SCAB IN SHEEP. 353 



applied are numerous; but the. most effectual, with the least 

 danger of injuring the animal, that ever I have seen applied, is 

 the common spirit of tar, and, if properly applied, will penetrate 

 and destroy the insect concealed in the pustules, or buried be- 

 neath the skin. The quantity applied may vary according to 

 the condition and age of the sheep, but for hill or ordinary 

 breeding stock, one bottle of the spirits of tar, mixed with twelve 

 times the quantity of water, is sufficient for twelve sheep, or one 

 common glass of the spirit of tar, mixed with a bottle of water, 

 is sufficient for one. But if a large number of sheep require to 

 be dressed, a quantity of liquid, or as much as will dress a hun- 

 dred sheep, may be mixed at a time. If mixing for a hundred, 

 six gallons of water, with six pounds of common soda, ought to 

 be warmed to the boiling pitch, then add the spirit of tar. The 

 soda acts as a chemical substance to combine and thoroughly 

 mix the spirit of tar with the water — without it the spirit of tar 

 will not intermix with water; afterwards fill up the mixture 

 with cold water to the quantity required. The operation ought 

 then to be conducted in the usual way of pouring, but with a 

 great deal of more time, care, and attention. The shepherd sheds 

 the wool, and a boy or girl with a small tin dish, in the form of 

 a coffee or tea pot, but a great deal smaller at the outlet, mea- 

 sures out the exact quantity for each sheep, and pours out the 

 liquid slowly, following up the furrow behind the shepherd's 

 hands. The sheds ought not to be above one inch apart, so that 

 the skin of the animal may be thoroughly examined ; and where- 

 ever the scab has got into a hard crust, a blunt instrument or 

 knife ought to be used, to scarify or scratch off scab, to enable 

 the liquid to penetrate more easily. The shepherd ought also to 

 have a quantity of the pure spirit of tar at hand. If the animal 

 is badly diseased about the hind quarters, particularly about the 

 tail or thighs, or even about the forearms, he may apply the 

 liquid freely, and rub well in with the hand. There is little 

 danger of injuring the animal on these parts. I have put four 

 glasses of the pure spirit of tar on one sheep, without any 

 injurious effects. But great caution ought to be used about 

 the shoulder, and above the kidneys, and nothing but the 

 mixture ought to be applied to these parts. If a sheep 

 shows symptoms of having got an overdose by staggering a 

 little, which it will clo in the course of fifteen minutes, — if 

 such is the case, a pitcher of cold water poured along the back 

 and shoulder will give immediate relief, and is an effectual cure. 

 There ought always to be two apartments for the dressed sheep. 

 As I have already said, a cure cannot be relied on without dress- 

 ing the whole flock where scab breaks out, so that when the 

 shepherd finds the least speck of disease on any animal, he 

 ought to put it into one apartment, and the clean, or apparently 



