514 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



E. When fuiiy settled draw off the clear liquid into the dipping vat 

 and add enough warm water to make 100 gallons. The sediment in 

 the barrel may then be mixed with water and used as a disinfectant, but 

 under no circumstances should it be used for dipping purposes. 



A double precaution against allowing the sediment to enter the vat is 

 to strain the liquid through ordinary bagging as it is drawn from the 

 barrel. 



In watching the preparation of lime and sulphur dips by other parties 

 the bureau investigators have found some persons who laid great stress 

 upon stirring the sediment well with the liquid before using the ooze. 

 This custom is undoubtedly responsible for a great deal of the prejudice 

 which exists at present against lime and sulphur dips; and, considering 

 the preparation of these dips in this way, there is no wonder at the im- 

 mense prejudice against them in certain quarters. 



Position of the bureau on lime and sulphur dips — To summarize, the 

 position of the bureau of animal industry on the lime and sulphur dips is 

 as follows: When properly made and properly used these dips are 

 second to none and equaled by few as scab eradicators. There is always 

 some injury to the wool resulting from the use of these dips, but when 

 properly made and properly used upon shorn sheep it is believed that this 

 Injury is so slight that it need not be considered; on long wool the injury 

 Is greater and seems to vary with different wools, being greater on a 

 fine than on a coarse wool. This injury consists chiefly in a change in 

 the microscopic structure of the fiber, caused by the caustic action of 

 the ooze. When improperly made and improperly used the lime and 

 sulphur dips are both injurious and dangerous and in these cases the 

 cheapness of the ingredients does not justify their use. In case scab ex- 

 ists in a flock and the farmer wishes to eradicate it, he can not choose a 

 dip which will bring about a more thorough cure than will lime and 

 sulphur (properly made and properly used) although it will be perfectly 

 possible for the farmer to find several other dips which will, when prop- 

 erly used, be nearly or equally as effectual as any lime and sulphur dip. 

 There is no dip to which objections can not be raised. 



POTASSIUM SULPHIDE DIP. 



It has been proposed by several parties to use a potassium sulphide 

 dip and such a dip has been tried to some extent. As yet, however, judg- 

 ment upon it must be reserved. Gillette tried a dip composed of iVz 

 pounds of potash lye, 16 pounds of flowers of sulphur and 100 gallons of 

 water and promises further reports on its effectiveness. Sheep dipped in 

 this liquid gained but 6 pounds, namely, the same as the sheep treated 

 with carbolic dip. 



TOBACCO DIPS. 



The active principle of tobacco, upon which the tobacco dips depend 

 for their action, is a poisonous substance known as nicotine. This poison 

 when applied to animals externally in too strong solutions may cause 

 nausea, fainting and even death. The dog and rabbit are particularly 

 susceptible to its effects. Diluted to about thirty-three one-thousandths to 

 sixty one-thousandths of 1 per cent makes it a slow but sure acting and 

 excellent sheep dip. 



