544 JOtlRNAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



This view was not accepted ; a test dipping- made with another 

 water, reputed to be " brak," seemed to show that the writer may have 

 been mistaken. Some months after this test dipping, however, he 

 was able to analyse the water; it contained: — 



Grammes per 

 100,000 c.c. 



Sodium carbonate 12.0 



Calcium and magnesium carbonate 29.0 



Sodium chloride 3.0 



Free carbon-dioxide Nil. 



The analysis shows the water to be very similar to that used at 

 the farm where the fatalities occurred, excepting- that it was a little 

 bit harder; also that it contained a good deal more sodium carbonate, 

 a point possibly in favour of a non-separation of oils from the emulsion. 

 It is also necessary to state that between the time of the test dipping 

 and the time the water was analysed, there had been several months 

 of drought, which suggests that the water may not have been so hard 

 at the time of the test dipping. 



Another point in connection with the test dipping is that a less 

 quantity of dip was made — less than half that mad'e when the sheep 

 were killed. This alone means that somewhere about half as much 

 separation only occurred. It was stated, however, that although no 

 sheep actuallj^ died from the test dipping, some were badly affected. 



Wishing, however, to satisfy themselves by actual trial, the pro- 

 prietors of " B " arranged for a test dipping in the tank and with the 

 water used when the deaths occurred. The writer was asked to be 

 present at the dipping, an invitation which was gladly accepted. 



Dip of prescribed strength to the amount of 490 gallons was 

 made, and through this 55 sheep were passed ; of them four had died 

 within a few days of the dipping ; others would probably have died 

 had they not been dosed with brandy and white of egg. 



This test dipping left no doubt as to the harmiulness of the dip 

 when used with that water. 



It was noticed that when the dip was made there was a consider- 

 able separation of oils. A sample was taken of the well-mixed dip 

 before the sheep were put through, and a further sample after the 

 dipping had been completed. On placing these in separating funnels, 

 it was found that there ^^ere, practically, no separated oils in the 

 latter; but a considerable quantity in the former, proving that the 

 sheep do take out the separated oils in their fleeces. This was also 

 obvious from the very dark colour of the fleeces of some of them. 



Further, a sample of urine taken from the bladder of one of the 

 sheep that died was found to contain decomposition products of 

 phenols. This was to be expected if the animal had died from phenolic 

 poisoning, because the urine is the channel through which these 

 poisons are eliminated. Since, from observation the sheep had not 

 taken dip through the mouth, it would seem that there must have been 

 absorption through the skin. 



It may be added that medical literature abounds with cases where 

 death has followed the extensive covering of the body with carbolic 

 fluids. An instance is taken from Wynter Blyth's book, page 181. 

 A surgeon prescribed for two joiners who suffered from scabies a 



