SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART X. 511 



as they have been reported, have not shown that death was due to any 

 properly prepared and properly used lime and sulphur dip. If the formula 

 of 100 pounds of sulphur, 150 pounds of lime and 100 gallons of water 

 has killed animals, that is no argument against the formula 33 pounds 

 of sulphur, 11 pounds of lime and 100 gallons of water, but simply shows 

 that the former formula is too strong. The statement is frequently made 

 that "shear-cut" sheep die when dipped immediately after shearing in a 

 lime and sulphur dip which has stood for some time. It is highly probable 

 that the cases of so-called "blood poisoning" of shear-cut sheep are gener- 

 ally due to an infection of bacteria in stale dip containing putrefying ma- 

 terial. It is, therefore, safer to use a fresh supply of dip and to allow 

 a short time to elapse after shearing before dipping. Some cases of death 

 are also said to have occurred after using a lime and sulphur dip made 

 in brass kettles. 



In an experiment by the bureau of animal industry, 5 c. c. of a clear 

 lime and sulphur ooze (formula No. 6) has been injected under the skin 

 of a sheep without producing any evil effects. 



It is also claimed that after the use of lime and sulphur dip ewes fail 

 to recognize their lambs and lambs fail to recognize their mothers. This 

 objection can, however, be made to other dips also. 



The greatest objection raised against the use of lime and sulphur dip 

 is that it injures the wool. After years of extensive experience with 

 properly prepared dip, its injury to the wool is strongly and steadfastly 

 denied by the agricultural department of Cape Colony. It is, however, 

 believed that there is a certain amount of justice in this objection to 

 lime and sulphur as generally used; unless, therefore, lime and sulphur 

 can be used in a way which will not injure the wool to an appreciable 

 extent, we should advise against its use in certain cases; in certain other 

 cases the good accomplished far outweighs the injury it does. 



An examination into this damage and its causes shows that the usual 

 time for dipping sheep is shortly after shearing, when the wool is very 

 short; whatever the damage at this time, it can be only slight and the 

 small amount of lime left in the wool will surely do but little harm. 



In full fleece, lime and sulphur will cause more injury. In Australia 

 the deterioration was computed by wool buyers at 17 per cent, although 

 in Cape Colony the department of agriculture maintains that is properly 

 prepared, and if only the clear liquid is used, the sediment being thrown 

 away, the official lime and sulphur formula will not injure the long wool. 

 In our experiments we have found some samples of wool injured by dip- 

 ping, while on other samples no appreciable effect was noticeable. 



It must not be forgotten that other conditions, such as variations in 

 the feed, pasturing on alkaline land, ill health from any cause, etc., may 

 cause brittleness of the wool, which might be mistaken for the effects 

 of lime and sulphur. 



If a lime and sulphur dip is used care must be taken to give the solu- 

 tion ample time to settle; then only the clear liquid should be used, while 

 the sediment should be discarded. In some of our tests on samples of 

 wool we have found that the dip with sediment has produced very serious 

 effects, even when no appreciable effects were noticed on samples in the 

 corresponding clear liquid. 



