54 Observations on Parasites and Parasitic Diseases 



parting a brownish colour to the wool. This, however, is only a 

 temporary evil, if one at all, as the stain is easily removed by 

 washing- ; indeed, it will be found to^ fade away of itself after a 

 few weeks exposure to the ordinary changes of weather. The 

 best of these compounds usually consist of carbolate of soda 

 with tarry matters. They mix easily with Avater, and do no 

 injury to the hands and arms of the sheep-dippers. 



We refrain from giving any special formulae for the making 

 of carbolic acid compounds, because we lack practical expe- 

 rience of their relative value when mixed in varying proportions 

 of their several ingredients. Besides it is far more to the 

 advantage of the farmer to purchase from a respectable manu- 

 facturer than to attempt the making of them himself. Both 

 the value and safety of very many sheep-dipping compositions 

 depend on the proper mixing and preparing of their several 

 ingredients ; and the appliances at the disposal of the farmer are 

 too often unequal to such an undertaking. 



Having thus epitomized the subject of sheep-dipping mixtures, 

 we pass on to make some observations on the proper period for 

 dipping sheej:), and also on the occasional ill-consequences which 

 arise therefrom. The proper time for dipping will very much 

 depend on the kind of sheep which are kept, and also on the 

 system of sheep-husbandry which is carried out on the farm — 

 things which are in a measure regulated by locality and soil. In 

 some districts almost of necessity " breeding sheep " are kept, 

 and " fatting sheep " in others. Besides this, all breeding flocks 

 are not managed alike, any more than the same system, of 

 fatting is observed by all feeders of sheep. 



In some parts of the country ewes are kept for breeding until 

 they are quite worn out by age. In others about a third of the 

 flock is changed every year by the bringing in of the ewe lambs, 

 and letting out a corresponding number of the old and less 

 valuable ewes ; while in many the entire flock is changed every 

 year by first fatting and disposing of the lambs, and afterwards 

 of the ewes. It is therefore apparent that no one time can be 

 fixed upon as being suitable to meet the requirements of each 

 of these cases. 



Where the system of buying-in ewes every year is adopted, 

 we prefer to dip them just before their being put to the ram j 

 say in September, This not only frees them from ticks, but also 

 from acari, and thus affords security, to a great extent, against 

 the scab during the succeeding winter months. Ewes kept 

 on the farm year after year are perhaps best dipped subse- 

 quent to weaning time, in July. If, however, from the multi- 

 plicity of parasites it becomes ahsolutchj necessary to dip them 

 while suckling their lambs, care should be taken not to use an 



