Sheep in New York State 1801 



The scab and external parasites, such as ticks, are no longer 

 serions, because they can be easily controlled by the carbolic dips. 

 With the first named, it is better to shear the sheep and immerse 

 them in the dip, rubbing the affected parts with a corn-cob in 

 order that it may penetrate beneath the skin and reach the minute 

 insect which burrows there. If the weather is very cold, a blan- 

 ket can be cheaply made of bran sacks. If the ticks arc trouble- 

 some in mid-winter, place the sheep carefully on its back, open 

 the wool along its neck and abdomen, then pour in the dip blood- 

 warm, letting it work through the wool along the skin. If the 

 dip is poured from the back down, it will follow the fiber of the 

 wool and little of it reach the pests. After the sheep are shorn, 

 the lambs should always be dipped. Attention to this will largely 

 do away with ticks. 



Foot rock is more troublesome with fine wools, but may be seri- 

 ous with sheep of the coarser wools. The feet should be examined 

 before the sheep are turned to pasture and any surplus growth 

 pared oif. Wet yards and swampy pastures are favorable breed- 

 ing grounds for this disease. When animals are affected, they 

 will spread the disease to sound sheep. At first appearance, tur- 

 pentine may effect a cure, but after the disease has become seated, 

 there is nothing better than a saturated solution of sulphate of 

 copper — blue vitriol — three pounds to one gallon of water. The 

 feet should be cut so that the solution will reach the seat of the 

 disease. Then compel the sheep to stand in a tul) of the solu- 

 tion for not less than five minutes. Heroic, persistent treatment 

 at the outset will be worth more than to simply bathe the affected 

 parts. 



The above are the most coinmon troubles and may be handled 

 with comparative ease. There are some more serious diseases 

 such as " nodular disease " and " liverfluke," which require treat- 

 ment from the most skilled veterinarians. Fortunately, they are 

 not common in this country. When death occurs from disease, 

 a post-mortem should always be made in order to treat intelli- 

 gently others similarly affected. If one starts with a healthy 

 flock and gives intelligent care and feed, his loss from disease 

 and parasites will be slight. Carbolic dips and tobacco should 

 always be on hand. As a matter of fact, the most serious losses 

 come from insufficient or improper feed and exposure. 



