as affecting Domesticated Animals. 55 



arsenical compound. In the latter case, tlie lambs also must be 

 dipped at the same time, or little or no good Avill result, for the 

 ticks will soon travel from the lambs back to the ewes, and infest 

 them as badly as before. The dipping of lambs is mostly deferred 

 until they are weaned ; but the late Lord Spencer tritely remarked 

 in his comments on this practice, as recommended by Mr. Cleeve 

 in an essay on " Diseases of Sheep," published in the first 

 volume of the Society's Journal, that " It is better to dip the 

 lambs immediately after the ewes are shorn, than after weaning. 

 The shearing the ewes destroys or removes the ticks which were 

 upon them, and the dipping destroys those which were upon the 

 lambs ; whereas, if it is postponed till the lambs are Aveaned, the 

 wool of the ewes will then have grown long enough to shelter 

 ticks which have come upon them from the lambs after the time 

 of shearing." * 



Sheep intended to be fatted during the winter on turnips, &c., 

 are best dipped in the autumn or latter part of the summer ; but 

 hoggets, which had been dipped as lambs, and which are to be 

 grass-fed during the succeeding summer, should be dipped the 

 second time in the spring after coming from their winter keep. 

 A neglect of this frequently causes much loss of wool, and not 

 unfrequently attacks of scab. 



Persons who in the spring of the year purchase sheep of different 

 kinds, and in various quantities for summer grazing, should always, 

 if possible, dip each lot directly the animals arrive on the farm, cer- 

 tainly before they are mixed with the former lots. If this be not 

 done the loss, both in wool and mutton, may prove a serious matter 

 from an attack of scab, it being well known that this disease 

 frequently breaks out among sheep thus brought together. 

 Farmers who merely breed, feed, and sell out from their own 

 flocks have fewer difficulties to contend with, and hence, as a 

 general rule, they content themselves by dipping their sheep after 

 shearing time, when the wool is somewhat grown ; a practice 

 which may suit their peculiar case, and theirs alone. 



Whatever time is selected, and this must necessarily vary in 

 almost every individual instance, care should always be taken to 

 avoid extreme hot and dry, as well as showery weather. 



As can be easily understood, sheep are very liable to be 

 destroyed by the use of poisonous dipping mixtures, from the 

 deleterious agents being absorl)ed into their systems from the 

 general surface of the skin. In many instances we are ready to 

 admit that absorption is the cause of death ; but after several 

 years' experience in the matter, we are persuaded it is far less 

 frequent than is generally supposed. 



* ' Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society,' vol. i., p. 329. 



