The Dipping of Sheep in so-called Carbolic Dips. 545 



lotion which contained 33.26 grammes carbolic acid in 240 c.c. Each 

 man was estimated to have used 13.37 grammes of carbolic acid. One 

 of the men died; the snrvivor described liis own symptoms as follows : 



" He and iiis comi^anion stood in front ol the fire and rubbed 

 the lotion in ; he rubbed it into his legs, breast, and front 

 part of his body; the other parts were mutually rubbed. 

 Whilst rubbing- his right arm, and drying it before the 

 fire, he felt a burning sensation, a tightness and giddiness, 

 and mentioned his sensations to his companion, who 

 laughed. This condition lasted from five to seven minutes, 

 but he did not remember whether his companion com- 

 plained of anytliing*, nor did he know what became of him, 

 nor how he himself came to be in bed. He was found 

 holding on to the joiners' bench, looking with wide, 

 staring eyes, like a drunken man, and was delirious for half 

 an hour." He soon recovered. *' The other joiner seems 

 to have died as suddenly as if he had taken prussic acid. 

 He called to his mother, ' Ich habe einen Rausch,' and 

 died with pale, livid face after taking two deep, short 

 inspirations." 



" The post-mortem showed the sinuses filled with mucli fluid 

 blood, and the vessels of the pia mater congested. Frothy, dark, 

 fluid blood was found in the lungs, which were hyperaemic; the tissues 

 of the epiglottis and air-tubes were reddened and covered with a dark, 

 frotlij' slime. Both ventricles — the venae cavae and the vessels of 

 the spleen and kidneys — were filled with dark, fluid blood. The 

 muscles were very red ; there was no special odour." 



It should be pointed out that the lotion used probably contained 

 true phenols, as well as creosols, so that a comparison with the effects 

 caused by carbolic dips would not be altogether just. It is, however, 

 known that for some animals, at least, the higher phenols and crude 

 creosols are just as poisonous, if not more so, than pure phenol, More- 

 over, reference to veterinary literature indicates that the application of 

 coal-tar dip emulsion to the skin of cats and dogs is attended with 

 considerable risk; I have, however, been unable to find any reference 

 to their bad effect on sheep. 



The question arises : Could anything be done to make these dips 

 safe with all waters? This is a matter which requires investigation. It 

 may, however, be pointed out that the first sheep that go through the 

 dip — usually the farmer's best, presumably because the dip is then 

 clean — t-ake the dangerous separated oils out with them. It might, 

 therefore, be possible to" free the dip v\'ash of its separated oils by draw- 

 ing absorbent material through it; for example, a framework bearing 

 absorbent material could be drav/n slowly upwards from the bottom 

 of the tank and out; this would take out most if not all of the 

 separated oils. Softening the water before use or adding more soap 

 to the concentrated dip are also methods which suggest themselves. 

 There is also good reason for believing that small tanks are safest. 

 If the water is " brak " the separation of oils is so obvious that one 

 cannot help noticing it and danger is avoided. It would seem to be 

 the water that causes the separation of minute globules of oil which 

 is so dangerous; of this type are the waters dealt with here. Tiny 

 globules, unless specially searched for, may also be easily overlooked. 



