634 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 10 



was communicated by Sir Joseph Banks to the 

 " Society tor the Encouragement of Arts, Manu- 

 factures, and Commerce," in 1789, from whose 

 ' Transactions,' for that year, we have selected 

 it:— 



Let one pound of pure quicksilver, Venice turpen- 

 tine, and common oil, of each half a pound, and four 

 pounds of hog's-lard, be triturated in a mortar tiJl the 

 quicksilver is thoroughly incorporated with the various 

 ingredients. 



In applyinor this ointment, the head of the sheep 

 must be first rubbed ; after which, a furrow is to be 

 drawn with the finger, from the region between the 

 ears, along the back to the point ofthe tail, so as to 

 divide the wool, till the skin be exposed to the 

 touch. Then the finger being dipped into the un- 

 guent, must be drawn along the skin ; and simi- 

 lar fiirrows should be made down the shoulders and 

 thighs, as far as the wool extends ; and if the 

 sheep be much infected, two other lines, or fur- 

 rows, ought to be drawn parallel to that on 

 the back ; and one should also be traced down- 

 wards on each side, between the fore and hind 

 legs. Afler this application, it is stated, that the 

 sheep may be turned out among the flock without 

 fear of communicating infection, as the blotches 

 will in a few days dry up, the intolerable itching 

 will subside, and the animals will be perfectly 

 cured without any injurious effects resulting from 

 the use of such unction. But this external remedy 

 should, in the opmion of Sir Joseph Banks, be not 

 delayed longer than Michaelmas. The sulphur 

 and turpentine ointment used for the fly will also 

 frequently cure the scab, but the scabs must be 

 scraped off before its application. 



But, says Mr. Hogg, " the most effectual cure 

 is that which can now be got in any apothecary's 

 shop, known by the name oC sheep ointment. It is 

 a strong mercurial composition ; and the most safe 

 way is, for the apothecary to put it up in small 

 balls, each of which he may deem sufficient, and 

 safe to be tubbed upon a sheep at once ; for, as 

 diff'erent hands may make it of different strength, 

 the most experienced applier can hardly be a 

 competent judge how much is sufficient for each 

 animal, without some such precaution. Let the 

 shepherd, then, take one of these balls at a time, 

 and mix it with three gills, or a mutchkin of train- 

 oil, and if the animal be thoroughly infi?cied, put 

 the whole of this upon it, as close to the skin as 

 possible; but if it is only scabbed or itching 

 on some parts of its body, perhaps each of these 

 mixtures may serve two. If the infected parts are 

 mostly on the back, or upper parts of its body, the 

 shepherd must make a shed, or opening of the 

 wool, exactly on the very ridge of the back, from 

 the crown to the tail ; let him' shed it clean to the 

 skin, and keep it open with both hands, while an- 

 other pours in the ointment from a common tea- 

 pot. He must not keep the wool too close down 

 with his hands, else it will cause the ointment to 

 drip upon if. In this case, a Cew sheds, or open- 

 ings, will do ; but if it is scabbed about the belly 

 and throat, it must be shed very thick, and the 

 Giiitment rubbed on the skin with the fingers, as it 

 cannot then spread in the skin by running. Let it 

 always be done in dry weather; and it is a safe 

 and certain remedy, though, perhaps, the scab may 

 agiiin appear on the offspringof this flock. Sheep, 

 however, arc sometimes seriously injured by a too 



long-continued application of mercurial dress- 

 ings." * 



The Tick is a small, brownish, and flat insect, 

 infesting sheep, and which, if not speedily de- 

 stroyed, materially injures both the flesh and wool 

 into which it insinuates itself. When the vermin 

 have settled, scabs are formed on the surface, 

 whence a small quantity of matter issues ; as the 

 insects increase in growth, the scab becomes pro- 

 poriionably larger, and at its full size nearly re- 

 sembles a middlmg-sized horse-bean. In order to 

 remove these noxious vermin, (which spread very 

 rapidly,) it has been recommended tosepartitethe 

 wool, and to wash the diseased spots two or three 

 times, or oflener, if necessary, with either of the 

 following liquid preparations: — 



One ounce of cream of tartar, and a quarter of 

 a pound of bay-salt (both finely-powdered and sifted,) 

 and one ounce of corrosive sublimate, mixed together 

 in two quarts of soft- water. 



Or, 



Four pounds of soft-soap, and two pounds of arsenic 

 may be steeped in thirty gallons of water, and the ani- 

 mals be immersed in the infusion, tlieir heads being 

 carefully kept above water, and the sheep being shel- 

 tered from rain for one or two days. The wool must 

 be closely pressed, and liquor that runs off should 

 be caught in a tub or other vessel, for future use. 



Ofthe latter application it is sufficient to state, that 

 it has been approved of and used by many eminent 

 agriculturists ; the proportion above specified is 

 sufficient to bathe forty lambs. The preparation 

 by Mr. Priest, of Norwich, already mentioned, 

 may also be beneficially employed in this disease. 



Jlffedions ofthe Udders of Ewes. — Afler the 

 lamhs are yeaned, the lacteal ducts of ewes' udderg 

 are linble to various obstructions, in consequence of 

 hard tumors bemg formed, which are accompa- 

 nied with inflammation; and which, if not shortly 

 relieved, will terminate in a mortification in twenty- 

 four hours. As snon as such tumors are disco- 

 vered, the wool must be shorn closely off, and the 

 part affected be li'equently rubbed with camphor- 

 ated spirit of wine. Should suppuration ensue, 

 the parts must be opened with a sharp knife, 

 or razor, and the morbid matter expressed, when a 

 little fresh butter, or any common healing-salve, 

 may be applied to the wound. Ewes, when thus 

 affected, ought to be kept separate from the flock ; 

 and, though one teat may probably be lost, yet she 

 may be allowed to suckle her lamb; but when 

 both teats are affected, there is no alternative but 

 to fatten her off. for sale, and to bring up the lamb 

 by hand. 



White Scovr. — This disorder is a peculiarly 

 violent and uncommon looseness, occasioned by 

 sheep feeding on putrescent vegetables, especially 

 the shells of turnips, when suffered to lie on the 

 ground after the flesh or pulp has been scooped 

 out. The diseased sheep must be separated from 

 the flock, and three large spoonfuls of the follow- 

 ing mixture be given to them, every second or 

 third day, as the nature of the case may re- 

 quire : — 



Mix half a pound of finely-powdered and sifted dry 

 bay-salt with one pint of old verjuice, and then add 

 half a pint of common gin. 



* Shepherd's Guide, p. 96. 



