ON WOOL. 281 



The louse of the sheep is not seen where dipping is practised, 

 and principally occurs in mountain sheep which have been 

 neglected. Professor Simonds speaks of them as common in 

 many parts of the western counties of England, where they are 

 known as red lice ; sulphuretted oil being used for their 

 destruction. We may safely say that when proper care is 

 exercised such plagues will not exist. The scab was formerly 

 much more common than at present. When sheep were exposed 

 in fairs, and travelled long distances, and when open grazing 

 was more common than at present, this was a frightful scourge, 

 being extremely contagious ; now it is only when sheep are 

 bought that there is dread of scab, and a proper dipping 

 generally insures our safety. In former days it was very 

 common to dress the sheep each autumn with mercurial oint- 

 ment, with a view to ward off scab and parasites. Now the 

 bath has superseded this plan, and we have a number of different 

 materials that are available. 



The arsenical compounds were for a long time greatly in 

 request ; these generally consisted of a preparation of arsenic 

 and soft soap. They proved effective against parasites, but it 

 is doubtful how far the heath of the animals suffered from the 

 absorption of the mineral, and it is quite certain that very 

 serious losses have occurred from the drippings of the liquid on 

 to grass which was afterwards eaten. For these reasons there 

 is a natural objection to arsenical dips. Tobacco, with various 

 other vegetable products, mostly of a poisonous nature, is very 

 largely used abroad, sometimes in conjunction with sulphur; 

 there is not the same risk as with arsenic. Of late years the 

 carbolic acid compounds, obtained from the distillation of tar, 

 have taken a very important place in the sheep dipping category, 

 and for many reasons we believe that they possess superior 

 advantages. Not only are they thoroughly effectual in destroy- 

 ing parasites, but they cleanse the skin in a remarkable manner, 

 possess extraordinary antiseptic properties, and for a consider- 

 able time render the sheep fly proof — the flesh fly abhorring the 

 tarry smell which pervades the sheep for some considerable 

 time after the operation. Mr. McDougall is well known as a 

 successful manufacturer of carbolic dips ; there was at one time 

 a firm at Norwich who patented a glycerine dip, in which 



