41 



White (E. E. D.). Dipping Cattle. — Queensland Agric. Jl., Brisbane, 

 viii, no. 4, October 1917, pp. 207-209. 



The loss of cattle from tick fever at the time when the tick 

 [Margaropus annulatus austral is] first appeared in north-east Queens- 

 land, twenty years ago, was as much as 60 per cent., and though 

 there are no losses from fever now, owing to the acquired immunity 

 of cattle in badly infested country, yet the great annual loss sustained 

 owing to the irritation caused by ticks is not generally reahsed, 80 per 

 cent, of the total of female animals branded each year dying from this 

 cause. Although complete tick eradication measures are at present 

 impracticable, yet the suppression of ticks by means of systematic 

 dipping, with the consequent decrease of mortality of stock, must be 

 regarded as the best possible investment. 



The following practical points should be noted : — The dipping tank 

 should be wide, at least 6 ft. across at the water Hne, to reduce the 

 risk of cattle injuring each other, and should be provided with a good 

 inchne and big wide steps on the walk-out as an aid to weak animals ; 

 the draining yard should be long and from 8-12 ft. wide ; tanks should 

 be arranged so that cattle need not be driven more than 7 or 8 miles ; 

 frequency of treatment must depend on the nature of the country, it 

 being necessary in some districts every three weeks, while in others an 

 occasional dipping will suffice ; the best time for treatment is from 

 April to July, for the reasons that the grass is good, the cattle are 

 strong, the weather cool, and the ticks, if unchecked, are rapidly 

 increasing, one dipping at this time being worth more than four in 

 August. It has been stated that it is impossible to dip weak cattle or 

 fattening bullocks, but experience has shown that in both cases it 

 results in improved condition ; though it is advisable not to put cattle 

 on the road immediately after treatment, but to allow them at least 

 five days' rest. 



McKenzie (J. W.). The House Fly. — Jl. Dept. Agric. Victoria, 

 Melbourne, xv, no. 10, October 1917, pp. 628-631, 1 fig. 



This article summarises the well-known facts concerning the life- 

 history, habits and dangers of Musca domestica (house-fly). In 1915 

 the deaths of 71 infants occurred in Victoria due to intestinal troubles, 

 74 per cent, of these being in the five months between December and 

 April, at which period the house-fly is most active, as against 26 per 

 cent, during the rest of the year. The prevalence of ophthalmia is 

 almost entirely due to infection by flies, the majority of cases among 

 infants being due to their being unable to protect the eyes from attack. 

 Formalin added to sweet milk in the proportion of 2 oz. formahn to 

 1 pint milk is very attractive to flies and should be exposed in shallow 

 plates with a piece of bread in the centre for the flies to alight on. 



An illustrated description is given of a fly trap easily made from a 

 wooden box and some wire gauze. 



CuELEWis (A. W.). Sheep Dipping.— JL Dept. Agric, Victoria, 

 Melbourne, xv, no. 10, October 1917, p. 634. 



The very marked increase in the number of lice-infested sheep, as 

 compared with recent years, may be attributed not so much to the 

 (C453} Wt. 5/131. 1,500. 3.18. B.&F.Ltd. G.11/3. a 



