16 



FARMERS BULLETIN 798. 



out or drained off. the sediment and dirt at the bottom should all be 

 removed and the bottom cleaned by sweeping or scraping with a hoe 

 or spade. After lime-sulphur-arsenic dip has been mixed to the 

 proper strength for dipping and used in the vat, it should not be 

 used again after it is 10 days old. This is a safe rule to follow with 

 any of the sheep dips, as losses often occur from dipping in old or 

 stale dips. 



The drowning of sheep in the vat can be avoided by proper care. 

 Men with dipping forks should be stationed along the vat on both 

 sides to attend the sheep and prevent accidents. When the vat be- 

 comes filled with sheep their progress is retarded and they frequently 

 attempt to raise themselves out of the dip by placing their forefeet 

 on the back of the sheep in front. The men along the vat should pre- 

 vent this by keeping the sheep properly arranged in the vat. The 

 dipping forks should be used to keep all of the sheep's body sub- 

 merged except its head while it is passing through the vat; this 

 can be done b}' placing the dipping fork over the shoulders of the 

 sheep and gently but firmly pushing it under the dip. The animal 

 will raise its nose so that the neck and part of the head can be sub- 

 merged w^ithout danger of strangling. Old ewes that have been 

 dipped a number of times are sometimes difficult to handle, both in 

 the chutes and in the dip. They will often lie on their sides in the 

 vat, bracing themselves with their feet against one side and their 

 backs against the other. When pushed under they Avill make efforts 

 to regain this position and may strangle. Sheep that are affected b}' 

 ^«^j ^=,^^ eating loco weed often drown in the vat unless 



^*^ they are piloted through. When strangling 



occurs the sheep should be taken from the vat. 

 If it does not get upon its feet, pull the tongue 

 forward, dash cold water over the head and 

 bod3% and if necessary, induce artificial respira- 

 tion. When it has regained sufficient strength, 

 and if it has not been in the dip long enough, 

 the animal should be returned to the pens and 

 piloted through the vat again. 



DIPPING FORKS. 



In using large vats dipping forks are neces- 

 FiG. 10.— Two styles of sarv for the efficient handling of the sheep and 

 dipping forks. should 'be provided as a part of the equip- 



ment at every plant. Several different styles are made, but the two 

 shown in figure 10 are the ones commonly used. The one with both 

 hooks turned upward seems to have the preference for the reason 

 that when it is in use either side may be hooked under the neck of 

 the sheep for raising the head in case of strangling. The handles 

 should be strong and from 5 to 6 feet long. The hooks should be 



