SHEEP. 343 



The following method of treatment and manner of constructing a dipping tank for use in 

 exclusive sheep husbandry, is given by Mr. R. R. Wright, Jr., Secretary of the Rocky 

 Mountain Wool Grower s Association, after ten years experience, and may be of interest to 

 others extensively engaged in the wool growing enterprise: 



&quot; I take my sheep from the shearing-pen as they are sheared, and examine every one 

 thoroughly; and when I find any signs of scab, I break the skin with a curry-comb until it 

 bleeds. To this spot I apply spirits of tar with a paint brush (full strength), going through 

 every lamb, as well as old sheep. After painting, I let them run ten days, then take them 

 to my dipping apparatus, which consists of a tank, 35 feet long, 5 feet deep, and 18 inches 

 wide. I dig a hole in the ground, brick it up, and cement the tank on the inside, with a large 

 dripping pen, divided so that one pen will be dripping while I am filling the other. I have 

 large tanks to soak and steep my tobacco in, which is done with a small-sized steam boiler, 

 and have pipes running from my tank to the dipping vat; and in that way I can keep the dip 

 the temperature I want it, which is about 120 (no hotter). 



The dip that I have had the best success with (and I have used almost every dip known), 

 is as follows: 30 Ibs leaf tobacco, 8 Ibs. sulphur, 1 Ib. arsenic, and one quart spirits of tar, to 

 every 100 gallons of water. I add the sulphur, arsenic, and spirits of tar to the tobacco 

 mixture in the dipping vat. I let my tobacco soak for twelve hours (the longer the better), 

 then boil it for two hours, keeping my tank covered, to keep the steam from escaping. My 

 sheep that were painted with the spirits of tar, ten days before, are put in a large corral, to 

 which is attached a small pen that will hold, say 200 sheep. These sheep are caught and 

 thrown into the vat, head first, and made to swim the whole length of the tank, and come out 

 in the dripping pens. 



When they come to a sheep that has been painted, these spots are painted again, and any 

 sheep that has it bad is held in the vat about a minute before it is allowed to swim through. 

 As soon as the sheep are dipped they are taken to a new range, or to a portion of the old 

 range where they have not been for some time, and put in clean corrals; they are held there 

 twelve days, brought back, dipped the second time, and taken to another part of the range. 

 Usually two dippings like the above, with the painting, will cure any ordinary case of scab; 

 but if they are very bad it will take three. Every sheep must be examined and well dipped, 

 for if you slight one that has the scab, you will never cure it. 



The sheep ought not to be put back in the old corrals or old range for two months, 

 and not then unless the corrals have been thoroughly cleansed and whitewashed, or there 

 have been heavy rains or snow. With my arrangements, I can dip 3,000 head per day. It 

 has been two years since I have had any scab in my herds; but it cost me over $3,300 

 before I would believe they could not be cured while I us ed the same corrals and range 

 while doctoring them.&quot; 



Thorough treatment and prompt attention cannot be too strongly urged in this disease, 

 for the safety and welfare of the flock. 



Sore Eyes. (See OPHTHALMIA.) 



Sore Lips. Sometimes the lips of sheep become so sore and swollen as to render 

 eating not only a very painful process, but almost impossible. Wash the parts affected with 

 warm soap suds, and apply freely over the surface an ointment made of the following com 

 pound: Five ounces of glycerine, one drachm of camphor, one drachm of alcohol, one ounce 

 of flowers of sulphur, and one-half ounce of creosote. This may require several applications, 

 but is a sure remedy ; apply twice a day. An ointment made of tar, a little sulphur, and 

 unsalted butter or lard, is also a good remedy. It should be applied about twice a day, for 

 several days. 



