11 



ment of this disease, to destroy parasites which have fallen off or have 

 been dislodged from the animals, as well as those that are upon them; 

 otherwise there is danger of their becoming reinfected from the prem- 

 ises after the effects of the remedy applied to the animals have disap- 

 peared. 



TKEATMENT. 



Methods in operation for the treatment of scabies in sheep have 

 become more or less familiar to all people interested in sheep hus- 

 bandry, and it may be said that the same treatment so successfully 

 applied in ridding sheep of scabies has been found equally efficacious 

 in the treatment of scabies of cattle. 



In 1898 the Bureau of Animal Industry issued Bulletin No. 21, entitled 

 "Sheep scab: Its nature and treatment," which gives a description of 

 this disease in sheep, its cause and treatment, with numerous formulas 

 for the preparation of dips, and illustrations of the methods of applying 

 them, together with directions for their use on both a large and small 

 scale. The treatment of such large animals as cattle, which are diffi- 

 cult to handle, because of their size and the conditions under which 

 they live the latter making them more or less intractable would 

 require a considerable amount of any preparation to wet thoroughly 

 all parts of their bodies. Next to effectiveness, therefore, small expense 

 is the first object that must be considered. In the treatment of cattle 

 for scabies, it seems fortunate that the dips of lime and sulphur, both 

 of which are inexpensive, have proved effective and entirety satisfactory . 



During the past few years many thousands of cattle have been suc- 

 cessfully treated for mange in different States of the Middle West and 

 Middle Northwest under the observation and supervision of inspectors 

 of this Bureau; Dr. A. D. Melvin, Assistant Chief of the Bureau, 

 and Dr. Robert H. Treacy, inspector, having submitted plans and 

 specifications, which will be found further on. 



The dip previously used contained an excess of lime, and frequently 

 proved quite irritating to the eyes and tender parts of the skin; hence 

 the lime-and-sulphur dip now adopted and recommended for the treat- 

 ment of scabies of cattle is made with the following ingredients: 



Flowers of sulphur pounds. . 24 



Unslaked lime do 12 



Water gallons.. 100 



Place the unslaked lime in a mortar box or some suitable vessel and 

 add enough water to slake it and form a lime paste or lime putty. 

 Sift into this lime paste the flowers of sulphur and stir the mixture 

 well. Be sure to weigh both the lime and the sulphur, and do not 

 trust to measure them in a bucket or guess at the weight. Place 

 the sulphur and lime paste in a kettle or boiler with about 25 or 30 



152 



