PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SCABIES. 183 



Treatment. I hope that the light at present thrown on 

 this malady will dimmish the number of animals to be 

 treated ; but it is quite evident that the proper measures to 

 adopt consist in effectually washing or clipping all sheep 

 that have been salved, in keeping the animals quiet on bare 

 pasture, or sheltering the sick ones in the farm-yard. Blood- 

 letting must be avoided, as it favours the absorption of the 

 mercury, and weakens the vital resistance of the sheep. 

 Tonics, oats, barley, common salt, &c., recommended by 

 some, must be avoided. I do not approve of the animals 

 being much disturbed by drenching, especially as all the sick 

 ones, owing to the condition of their respiratory organs, may 

 be choked by physic passing down the windpipe. 



The prevention of the disorder consists in preventing scab 

 other parasitic diseases, by enforcing the law relating to 

 tagious affections amongst cattle, sheep, &c. Poisonous 

 .rugs should only be used by qualified professional men, and 

 here we have a good illustration of the monstrous effects of 

 quackery in the country. Preparations of arsenic, mercury, 

 &c., so largely used by flockmasters, should not be sold as 

 they are. Non-poisonous skin-dressings can and must be 

 employed, and it is to be hoped that veterinary surgeons will 

 turn their attention to the preparation of compounds destruc- 

 tive to parasites, but harmless to sheep and human beings. 

 Whatever dressings are used should not be too stiff, and should 

 be usually saponaceous. When flocks are scabby, veterinary 

 surgeons should be employed to treat them, and see to their 

 health, comfort, and safety, just as much as they have to do 

 with regard to horses. They should not be called when ani- 

 mals are gasping for breath and moribund. It is unfair to 

 them, as they cannot perform miracles and purify poisoned 

 blood in the way in which pure water may be made to dis- 

 place impure from a pitcher. This is a stupid notion which 



