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Journal of Agriculture. [lo Sept., 190J 



LAMB MORTALITY THROUGH TETANUS. 



H. W. Ham, Sheep Expert. 



Lamb raisers at Elmore, Lara, Rupanyup and other parts of the State 

 have found lambs, from a month to two months old, and mostly wether 

 lambs marked from' a week to three weeks previously, dying in the pad- 

 docks. One grower at Elmore has lost forty within a few days. They 

 are found Iving down, sometimes frothing at the mouth, with eyes turned 

 back and set, limbs \ery rigid — so much so that if the lamb is placed 

 against a fence it will remain erect. They appear to be in great pain, 

 and grind their teeth. There is no swelling to speak of. They live from 

 two to six days after being attacked. Lambs whether castrated in the old 

 wool-growing style, or by later methods, are all affected alike. If their 

 tails have been seared or taken off by the knife the effect is the same. 



Dr. Bull, Bacteriologist, Melbourne University, as the result of his 

 examination of a lamb from Elmore, states that death is caused by tetanus 

 germs, which are more prevalent at some seasons of the year than at others. 

 When lambs lie down, as they always do immediately after castration, 

 thev are liable to come into contact with these germs, especially if in old 

 sheep yards, or paddocks where the pasture is short. 



Dr. Bull's advice is to use phenvle of the strength of one in forty 

 immediatelv on castration taking place. A tin containing a good quantity 

 of this antiseptic can be tied to a fence close handy, and applied very 

 quickly in the same way as boys tar cuts at shearing time. 



TANNING OF FOX SKINS. 



.4. .4. Brown, M.B., B.S., Inspector of Foods for Export. 



The skins should first be treated by sprinking salt over the flesh sides, 

 and allowing them to stand for twelve hours ; or, if the pickling method 

 be preferred, immerse them in a strong solution of brine. The next 

 operation is to wash well in cold water and then " flesh " them — that is, 

 remove all fat and other loose tissue. They are then sewn together to 

 form pouches with hair inside, and placed in weak wattle bark solution, 

 made by boiling the bark and leaving the decoction to stand for twenty- 

 four hours before using it. The skins are left in the first bark bath for 

 twenty-four hours then removed and allowed to drain. The strength 

 of the tan is increased by the addition of more of the bark preparation, 

 and the skins replaced. After the lapse of another twenty-four hours, 

 the skins are taken out and allowed to drain. The strength of the tan 

 is dailv increased for twelve days more, and every day the skins must be 

 lifted out of the tan and allowed to drain. After the skins are tanned 

 and washed, the leather sides should receive a coat of dubbing. The 

 skins are then thoroughly worked, stretched, and hung up to dry, and 

 the fur cleaned and evenly smoothed out. 



Another method of curing skins is to treat them with salt and sulphuric 

 acid. Over two quarts of bran pour five or six quarts of boiling water, 

 and then strain. Make an equal quantity of salt water by putting into 

 water as much salt as it will take up. Mix the bran and salt solutions 

 and to each gallon of the mixture add one ounce of sulphuric acid. Then 

 immerse the skins, stirring them occasionally until tanned. Fox skins 

 will tan in about one hour. When tanned, wash the skins in water, and 

 bang in shady place to dry ; when dry, work them well. 



