SCAB IN SHEEI\ 355 



formed they were fed off on turnips during the following winter^ 

 and no symptoms of the disease again appeared. 



It will be seen, however, that these experiments were con- 

 ducted upon sheep that had only been for a comparatively short 

 time affected with scab ; and, from my own experience, 1 cannot 

 say how the cure would succeed with a Hock of sheep where the 

 disease had existed for years, and, consequently, the ground had 

 become foul, and liable to communicate infection. 



I take the liberty of quoting, on the authority of a friend, an 

 experienced shepherd, who was engaged a good many years ago 

 to superintend a large stock-farm in the Highlands, and where 

 scab had prevailed amongst the flocks for many years previous. 

 He states he bathed the whole flocks twice with the spirit of 

 tar; afterwards, in the month of November, he smeared the 

 whole heavily with the usual mixture of tar and butter, which 

 effectually eradicated the disease. But, he adds, although the 

 cure of scab in a large stock-farm entails a great deal of trouble 

 and expense, it can be accomplished. But whilst stock-farmers 

 are not all equally zealous in keeping their flocks free of scab, 

 the great difficulty is how to prevent it. Whilst sheep are 

 newly poured with the spirit of tar, or heavily smeared with 

 tar and butter, there is no danger of them catching the disease 

 from coming in contact with scabbed sheep ; but it is no uncom- 

 mon occurrence, and very mortifying, after your whole flock is 

 thoroughly cleaned and clipped, for a strayed scabbed sheep to 

 find its way among your own ; and, in these mountainous, wide 

 districts, it may have taken up its abode for weeks, or perhaps 

 months, before it is discovered, consequently a fresh outbreak of 

 the scab is the result. 



To corroborate this statement, Mr Gardner states his experi- 

 ence in curing scab in Australia. When he first went out and 

 commenced stock farming, scab prevailed almost generally 

 throughout the colony, and it was the greatest pest and difficulty 

 sheep masters had to contend with. No sooner had he got his 

 flock cured, than they caught the disease afresh, from coming in 

 contact with some more indolent neighbour, who allowed his 

 flock to be overrun with scab. At length stringent laws were 

 passed, inflicting a heavy penalty on every stock-master who 

 allowed his sheep, if scabbed, to come within a mile of his 

 neighbour's boundary. Mr Gardner then saw there was a possi- 

 bility of eradicating the disease. His flock at that time 

 amounted to upwards of 10,0(J0, and the disease was spread 

 throughout the whole, which was certainly a very formid- 

 able task to attempt to cure. Clipping time was the period 

 selected for the operation. After every sheep was stripped of 

 its wool, three men were appointed for each sheep, which was 

 thoroughly dressed with an infusion of tobacco and sublimate 



