52 Observations on Parasites and Parasitic Diseases 



animals from a want of clue care in disposing of the superfluous or 

 unused quantity of the mixture after the dipping is finished. As an 

 example we may mention that an influential member of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society lost twenty-two pigs in the summer of 1859^ 

 from the shepherd emptying the spare liquor into a yard, where the 

 pigs were kept. The Aveather at the time was very hot, and the 

 animals, driven by extreme thirst, drank some of the fluid, and 

 soon fell a sacrifice to its poisonous effects. We have alsO' 

 known of cases where nearly all the ducks on a farm have been 

 killed by the superfluous " sheep wash " being emptied into a 

 muddy-ditch to which the birds resorted. It is likewise no 

 uncommon thing for fish to be poisoned, if it be thrown into 

 a pond, or even into a running stream. 



Another serious drawback to the employment of arsenical 

 solutions is the injurious effects which are produced on the hands 

 and arms of the men engaged in the dipping. The nails of many 

 of them are almost destroyed thereby, Avhilst in some unhealthy 

 sores and ulcers of the arms follow the day's work. The men 

 also are far too careless in protecting the lower parts of their 

 persons from the action of the poison, often neglecting to put on 

 an additional covering so as to keep their clothes from being 

 soaked thi'ough with the fluid. Such serious ill-consequences 

 have now and then resulted from this, as even to endanger life. 



jNIuch more might be said against the use of arsenical solutions 

 for the dipping of sheep, but in an essay of this kind it is 

 unnecessary to add to these instances of the danger which is 

 incurred. 



A useful formula for the making of an arsenical bath is as 

 follows : Take of arsenic h lb., soft soap ^ lb,, carbonate of 

 potash 4 ozs., and water 20 gallons ; boil the arsenic and the 

 potash together in one half of the water, and dissolve the soap in 

 the other half; afterwards mix together for use. This will make 

 a bath sufficient for 20 sheep. It should be used moderately 

 warm, as it will then be found to be more efficacious in the 

 destruction of parasites, and less hurtful to the sheep, than 

 plunging them into the fluid when cold. 



Sulj)lnu'etted 3Iixtures. — These mixtures in their simple form 

 being free from any deleterious agents find favour Avith many- 

 farmers, for the dipping of ewes while suckling their lambs. 

 They should hot, however, be depended upon for the destruction 

 of ticks, unless combined with a narcotic vegetable decoction ; 

 that of tobacco being probably the best. The advocates of their use 

 contend that it is only necessary to keep the sheep in the sulphur 

 bath rather longer than the ordinary time, to have its full Ijenefit 

 produced, and that any failure which may arise is due to a Avant 

 of precaution. We have often used a simple sulphuretted mix- 



