86 



iisiially found m South Africa is not effective, because tlie slieep 

 will take only from lialf a minute to one minute to swim tlirouo^li 

 and has to be pushed or held back in order to keep it immersed 

 for the required time, and this involves labour. 



With reo-ard to dipping materials the author stronglv recom- 

 mends a home-made dip, and gives directions for preparing three 

 sulphur dips which have been found effective : -(a) sulphur and 

 lime, (h) sulphur loogas (crude alkali), and (r) caustic soda 

 and sulphur. Ihe method of dipping is described, and the 

 author points out that it is a well known fact tliat animals are 

 often in the first stage of infection without sho^^■ing visible 

 signs of the disease. Psoroptes communis var. oris, the shee]> 

 scab parasite, is frequently found on the goat, although it does 

 not thrive on that animal, and one undipped animal can easilv 

 re-mfect a whole flock in a verv short time. 



Detailed directions are given for the treatment of infected 

 goats suffenng from the Sarcoptes mite (commonlv called the 



iioer goat scab ) which burrows under the epidermis For 

 his purpose it is most important that the dipping mixture 'should 

 be of the exact strength and that it should always be used warm 

 All visibly infected animals should be marked and the affected 

 parts specially scrubbed with some of the mixture from the tnnk 

 so as to soften the crust before the animal is dipped Goats 

 should be kept m the tank at least three minutes, and the dav 

 after dipping all the marked animals should have the infected 

 spots rubbed with pure lard oil, and if affected about the head 

 the oil should be thoroughly rubbed over the whole face, lips 

 ears, jaws and under the gullet ; six days afterwards' these 

 animals should be examined again and if necessary again treated 

 with oil. All goats in the flock should be again dipped and oiled 

 within 10 to 14 days of the first dipping. Between the first and 

 second dips tlie goats must be placed in a new kraal or sleeping 

 place. Kids should be dipped before the full-grown animals are 

 treated, and care must be taken that none of the mixture enters 

 the mouth. 



The author points out that the experiments of Mr. Davison 

 at the Cape have conclusively proved that an infested kraal may 

 still disseminate scab after a period of three years, and it i^s 

 therefore very essential that all kraals and sleeping places should 

 be thoroughly cleansed at the same time as the sheep are being- 

 dipped. The best means of effecting this is undoubtedly by fire, 

 but if this is impossible, disinfection by spraying with a d per 

 cent, solution of carbolic acid and subsequent lime-washing, will 

 be permitted. Great care should be taken to remove all dung, 

 and in those cases in Avhich the walls of the kraals are made of 

 dung cakes these should be burnt, or if tlie dung is intended to 

 be used for household purposes it sliould be stored in some shed 

 or enclosure to which stock cannot obtain access. Lastly the 

 autlior points out that a farmer should take the i)recaution of 

 preventing all sheep coming from other farms being mixed with 

 his own before they have been dipped. Such sheep and the 

 farm from which they come may have been clean for years, but 

 tliere is always danger of picking up infection on the road. 



