354 SCAB IN SHEEP. 



so, into another. The latter may be turned to their former pas- 

 ture when thoroughly dressed, but the scabbed ones must be 

 kept separate for ten or fourteen days, and then undergo a second 

 dressing, even although the disease may appear entirely subdued, 

 as the first dressing cannot always be relied upon as an effectual 

 cure. They may then be turned out to join the rest of the flock, 

 and I have never known the disease break out afresh under that 

 treatment. 



I have cured two lots of hogs seriously affected with scab in 

 the manner described. The first lot was bought from a dealer in 

 the month of October, and after being brought home, and put on 

 a second crop of clover, they showed symptoms of scab in two 

 weeks, but no means were taken to arrest its progress for two 

 months. Application was then made to the dealer to get them 

 returned. He refused, on the ground that the application ought 

 to have been made as soon as the disease appeared ; and there 

 was no doubt the owner made a mistake on this point, as he had 

 allowed the whole lot of hogs, amounting to a hundred, to be- 

 come affected, and a good many had lost condition. I was asked 

 by the owner to try and effect a cure, and use any application 

 I considered best. I consulted an old shepherd I knew had a 

 great deal of experience amongst scabbed sheep, and he advised 

 the above remedy, namely, spirit of tar. I dressed every hog. 

 Those that were badly diseased I applied an extra dose of the 

 pure spirit of tar. I instructed them to be turned into a clean 

 pasture field for fourteen days ; and although the disease at that 

 time appeared to have been subdued, I dressed the whole lot 

 again. The hogs were clipped during the summer, and fed on 

 turnips in winter, and no symptom of the disease ever ap- 

 peared. 



The second lot of hogs was also bought from a dealer, and 

 had been three times returned on his hand for being scabbed. 

 The dealer asked my employer to buy them. This he agreed to 

 do at a price much below the original cost, and on condition 

 that every sheep that died of dressing was at his loss. They 

 were greatly reduced in condition, and the wool was falling off 

 in large flakes. I applied the same remedy, but I was instructed 

 by my employer to make certain of a cure, although I killed a 

 good many ; consequently, to every hog that was badly diseased, 

 I applied the spirit of tar liberally, putting as much as four 

 glasses on some animals. A good many of them sickened and 

 staggered a few minutes after being dressed. I at once applied 

 the cold water, which was an immediate cure. After fourteen 

 days I dressed the whole lot again, which was in the month of 

 January ; and at the term of Whitsunday, when I left, they 

 remained quite clean, and in thriving condition. I never had an 

 opportunity of seeing them again, but, upon inquiry, I was in- 



