108 



Facer (A. W.). An Investigation of tlie Oxidation of Cattle Dips when 

 Bottled.-Rhodesia Agric. Jl, Salisbury, xiv, no. 2, April 1917, 

 pp. 202-205. 



It is a well-known fact that sodium arsenite in cattle dip has a 

 tendency in the tank to pass by oxidation into the much less effective 

 sodium arsenate and it has been found that this conversion is sometimes 

 much more rapid when the dip is enclosed in a corked bottle with only 

 a Hmited supply of oxygen. A simple method of arresting this oxida- 

 tion is the addition of sufficient sulphuric or hydrochloric acid to render 

 the dip faintly acid in reaction. Experiments have been undertaken 

 to determine the period that elapses before oxidation takes place in the 

 absence of a preservative acid. For this purpose bottles of the dip 

 were taken from various tanks and analysed from time to time. Con- 

 siderable variations were found in the reaction of the dips, some 

 oxidising much more rapidly than others, this being possibly due to 

 lack of uniformity in the solutions. The average taken from six samples 

 gave an increase in oxidation after three days of 4-7 per cent.; after 

 seven days, 11-2 per cent. ; after 49 days, 509 per cent. After 

 oxidation takes place, the sodium arsenate has a tick-killing power of 

 about one-half of that of the arsenite from which it is formed. Hence 

 the deterioration in tick-killing power is 23 per cent, after three days^ 

 5-6 per cent, after seven days, and 254 per cent, after 49 days. As the 

 deterioration in one week is only 5-6 per cent. , it does not seem necessary 

 to add a preservative unless the dip is to be prepared more than one 

 week before use. When the preservative is required, 2 c.c. of sulphuric 

 acid added to each bottle completely arrests oxidation in all cases. 

 As these experiments were only conducted with six samples, they are 

 not put forward as being conclusive, but as a practical guide to 

 farmers in remote districts. 



Delia Rogna del Cavallo. [Horse Mange.] —Clinica Veterinaria, Mihn, 

 xxxx, no. 8, 30th April 1917, pp. 232-237. 



The following pomade was successfully used by Carpartier in curing 

 mange on French army horses :^Sodium bicarbonate, 30 grammes ; 

 petroleum, 300 ; olio di cade, 20 ; ground-nut oil, 100 ; bichloride 

 of mercury, 1 ; water, 1,000. The following mixtures may be used 

 with a sprayer, especially the second :— Potassium pentasulphide, 

 25 grammes ; cresyl, 20 ; sodium arsenate, 2 ; water, 1,000 ; or 

 potassium pentasulphide, 41 grammes ; nicotine, 1 ; sodium arsenate, 

 2 ; water, 1,000. After being sprayed abundantly and carefully the 

 the coat must be dusted with sulphur. In the English army, horses 

 are dipped in tanks such as are used for cattle and sheep, a lime- 

 sulphur dip being employed. In the German army, which appears to 

 have suffered more than others from mange infection, a tar pomade is 

 used after the horses have been shorn and washed with soap. 

 Epidemics of equine mange have broken out among German soldiers, 

 especially on the Russian front. Good results were obtained with a 

 pomade containing 17 per cent, of sulphur and 8 per cent, of potassium 

 carbonate, the body (except the face and head) being anointed, one- 

 third at a time, on consecutive occasions. The last application is 

 followed, at 12-24 hours' interval, by a hot bath. This treatment 



