4:88 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



" worst ones which are allowed to occur in well-managed flocks — 

 " that there is, in reality, any possible beneficial addition to mere 

 " blue vitriol, as a remedy, if it is applied in the most effective 

 " way. Twice I have cured a diseased Jiock by one application 

 *' of it, — and I never heard of it being done in any other way, or, 

 " indeed, on any other occasion." 



Scab is a disease of the skin like the itch in the human race, or 

 the mange in horses. It is caused by a minute insect known to 

 entomologists as the Acarus. Dr. Randall does not think that the 

 disease- originates spontaneously in the United States, and its 

 prevalence here is confined chiefly to long-wooled sheep. 



" It spreads from individual to individual, and from flock to 

 " flock, not only by means of direct contact, but by the acari left 

 '^ on posts, stones, and other substances against which diseased sheep 

 " have rubbed themselves. Healthy sheep are therefore liable to 

 " contract the malady if turned on pastures previously occupied 

 " by scabby sheep, though some considerable time may have 

 " elapsed since the departure of the latter. 



" The sheep laboring under the scab is exceedingly restless. It 

 "rubs itself with violence against trees, stones, fences, etc. It 

 " scratches itself with its feet, and bites its sores, and tears off its 

 "wool with its teeth. As the pustules are broken, their matter 

 " escapes and forms scabs covering red, inflamed sores. The 

 " sores constantly extend, increasing the misery of the tortured 

 "animal. If unrelieved, it pines away and soon perishes." 



Having detected the appearance of scab in a newly purchased 

 flock of sheep, Dr. Randall adopted the following treatment : — 



" The sheep had been shorn, and their backs were covered with 

 " scabs and sores. They evidently had the scab. I had a large 

 ^' potash kettle sunk partly in the ground as an extempore vat, 

 " and an unweighed quantity of tobacco put to boiling in several 

 " other kettles. The only care was to have enough of the decoc- 

 " tion, as it was rapidly wasted, and to have it strong enough. A 

 " little spirits of turpentine was occasionally thrown on the decoc- 

 " tion, say, to every third or fourth sheep dipped. It was neces- 

 " sary to use it sparingly, as, not mixing with the fluid and floating 



