THE COMMON SHEEP-SCAB. 73 



animal is kept in the bath from three to four minutes. A 

 fourth man separates with his hands the \^ool, and thor- 

 oughly rubs the infested skin, using a sharp brush to remove 

 the scab. The legs of the sheep a re kept in the bath, the head 

 must be well washed and should be immersed several times; 

 in doing so one man should keep the eyes of the animal 

 closed with his hands. After the bath the sheep is put in an 

 adjoining empty box to collect the drippings, which are ad- 

 ded from time to time to the bath. Of course the ani- 

 mals should be kept in a sheltered place, free from the dis- 

 ease, after each bath, and should be protected from the 

 winds until dry. 



This bath kills only the mites, but not their eggs, and 

 consequently — as the egg stage lasts from three to seven 

 days — another bath must be given seven to eight days after 

 the first one to kill the young mites just hatched. It is 

 usually not necessary to give still another bath after this. 

 The animals still suffer a little from the itching of their skin, 

 but this will gradually disappear as the sores become healed. 

 If, however, after a sufficient time the itching does not stop, 

 then it is necessary to repeat the bath. 



Where large flocks have to be dipped tubs merely large 

 enough to completely immerse one sheep are not sufficient, 

 and dipping pens or tanks have to be made, through which 

 the animals to be treated may be driven. Large boilers to 

 prepare the dip and to heat the water are also necessary. 



Disinfection of Stables, etc. — The first step necessary is 

 to remove the dung from the stables to fields not accessible 

 to sheep, where it should be plowed under. The earth com- 

 posing the floor of the stables should be dug up to a depth of 

 several inches and should be removed and replaced by fresh 

 material. All the wood w^ork in stables must be washed 

 w^ith hot soap suds, and white- w^ashed to a height of five feet. 

 Posts in or near pastures should be treated in a similar man- 

 ner. After leaving the \v^ell-ventilated stables in this condi- 

 tion for two -weeks sheep can again be housed in them. 



Composition of Dips. — There are a very large number of 

 dips recommended, and most of them are satisfactory if thor- 



