ARSENICAL SHEEP DIPS 279 



climbing. In various parts of England, as well as in 

 Southern Europe, small doses are sometimes regularly given 

 to horses, and as it diminishes oxidation, muscle waste, and 

 production of carbonic acid, active exertion is performed 

 with a minimum of fatigue. So long as it is used cautiously 

 and regularly, the animals appear to be in excellent health, 

 and have fine sleek coats ; but when the arsenic is discon- 

 tinued they fall off in appearance, and for many months are 

 greatly more difficult to keep in condition. This practice 

 should not be tolerated, for it is attended with much risk of 

 poisoning, and is, moreover, liable to injure the horse's 

 constitution. 



Externally, arsenic is occasionally used to eradicate warts 

 and destroy fistulae and malignant tumours. For foot-rot, 

 Williams advised that the affected sheep be slowly driven 

 through troughs containing a tolerably strong solution of 

 arsenic and alkaline carbonate. In solution it is sometimes 

 applied to remove the scurfiness of psoriasis. Used in- 

 cautiously, it causes sloughing and blemishing, and if 

 absorbed may produce constitutional disturbance . In virtue 

 of its antiseptic properties it is employed in powder or in 

 solution with soap for the preservation of skins and natural 

 history specimens. 



For sheep dips arsenic is much used. Such dips destroy 

 ticks and keds more effectually than solutions of tobacco, 

 spirit of tar, alkaline and non-poisonous dips, and are safer 

 and more convenient than mercurial baths or ointments. 

 Two to two and a half pounds of arsenic, with about the 

 same quantities of soda ash or impure sodium carbonate, 

 soft soap, and sulphur, are dissolved in a hundred gallons of 

 water. Three, four, and even five pounds of arsenic are 

 sometimes used without untoward results. In many parts 

 of England, pearl ash or impure potassium carbonate is sub- 

 stituted for the soda ash, and makes a more cleansing and 

 softening ley. Some flock-masters double or quadruple the 

 quantity of soap, which, with the alkaline carbonate, aids in 

 dissolving the arsenic, while the sulphur whitens and softens 

 the fleece, and also for a considerable time prevents attacks 

 of flies, which are further deterred by addition of a pint or 

 two of naphtha, or of impure carbolic acid. The ingredients 



