as affecting Domesticated Animals. 51 



c. " Decoy pen," into which 2 or 3 sheep are placed to induce the others to 

 go forwards. 



F. The dip or batli containinu; the mixture. 



G. The sliding-door, communicating with " the race." 

 H. Chain-puUe}' and weiglit for raising the door. 



1. 1. The race leading to tlie draining-yards. 



Fig. 7 ; ground plan. 

 The references are the same from " a" to "i" as in Fig. G. 

 J. The lower draining-yard. 

 K. Upper draining-yard. 



L. A channel to receive the superabundant fluid, and carry it hack into 

 the bath. 



Not only in Australia, but likewise in America, tobacco-baths 

 are in much rec [uest. A few years since an attempt was made to 

 introduce into this country an " extract of tobacco," manufactured 

 by the " Southdown Company " of Boston, Mass., and patented by 

 Mr. Jaques, for the making of " sheep-dips." It met, however, 

 with little encouragement. The samples of the " extract " which 

 we saw were nicely manufactured ; but the article could not 

 compete in price with our common sorts of the drug, especially 

 when the quantity to be used — an ounce to the gallon — was taken 

 into consideration. The " extract " is, we are told, much used 

 in America, and with the best results. 



Arsenical Solutions. — The cheapness and efficacy of these 

 compounds have led to their very general use by flock-masters. 

 When properly prepared and rightly used, although containing 

 a deadly poison, they are nevertheless safe even for the dipping 

 of lambs as Avell as aged sheep. Great improvements have been 

 made in these compounds of late years, and few of them now 

 contain arsenic, excepting in the form of an arsenite of potash. 

 This preparation is equally as destructive to parasites as arsenic 

 itself, but less likely to be injurious to the sheep, as its greater 

 solubility prevents its subsiding to the bottom of the dipping tub, 

 thus to be brought in contact with the skin of those which are 

 dipped when the fluid is nearly consumed. 



So many accidents have occurred from the careless manner 

 in which arsenical solutions are dealt with on the premises of 

 farmers, that it is a serious question whether they ought not 

 to be entirely superseded by non-poisoning compounds. A little 

 more than a year ago ten persons were poisoned at a farm 

 at Ashby St. Ledgers, near Rugby, from a cause of this kind, 

 and one of them, a labourer, died. Some of the arsenic, in an 

 unexplained manner, got mixed in a pudding made by the 

 mistress of the house for herself, family, and servants, she having 

 on the morning of the same day assisted her son in preparing the 

 sheep-dipping compound. 



Numerous instances are also recorded of the poisoning of 



E 2 



