81 NOTES ON FIELDS AND CATTLE. 



the effects of parturition, and the lambs are pretty 

 strong ; the process not only kills the ticks that are 

 so troublesome to them and effectually prevent their 

 fattening, but greatly improves the wool. 



The lambs will not thrive, however good the keep, 

 if tortured by that demoniac parasite. 



Great care must be taken during this operation ; 

 in fact it is one of those dangerous straits when the 

 captain should be himself upon the paddle-box, for 

 unless the very utmost care is exercised, the poisoned 

 liquid that constitutes the bath is, through their 

 struggling, liable occasionally to get down their 

 throats, from which, however small the dose, they 

 are sure to suffer, if not die. A sunny day should 

 be chosen for the dipping, and they should be turned 

 out into a yard until their coats are dried — a yard 

 free from all clumps or fringe of grass on which the 

 liquid might drip from the wool, with a probably 

 murderous effect to any unfortunate that might 

 attempt to amuse its confinement by browsing. 

 There was a case last year of a farmer losing a large 

 flock, from their being allowed to range over a 

 meadow immediately after they were lifted from the 

 tub, the arsenical or other poisonous ingredient 

 which had settled on the grass being imbibed into 

 their system. Some farmers dip their flocks twice, 

 or oftener, during the year. You must not allow the 

 lambs to join their mothers until they are quite dry, 

 and have had their udders well washed with fresh 

 water. You must take care, too, that the fowls do 

 not pick up the poisoned parasites : keep them away 

 for a few days from the sheep-shed, else they are apt 



