232 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



come sores. The condition of the sheep falls off rapidly, and it 

 becomes a wo-begone object, such as is shown in figure 90. 



The treatment is by dipping in a liquid which penetrates and 

 softens the scab so that it can be removed, and which poisons the 

 insect. There are many preparations used for this purpose, some 

 of which are objectionable on account of their poisonous proper- 

 ties, such as mercurial or arsenical compounds, and which are 

 no more effective than the following perfectly safe one. This 

 consists of tobacco and sulphur in the proportions of four ounces 

 of the first, and one of the second, to the gallon of water. The 

 water is brought to a boiling heat, and the tobacco, either coarse 

 cheap leaf or stems, which are equally good, is steeped, (but not 

 boiled), in it until the strength is exhausted. The sulphur is then 



Fig. 90. SHEEP AFFECTED WITH SCAB. 



stirred in the liquid. When it has become reduced in tempera- 

 ture to 120 degrees, it is ready for use. The sheep are entirely 

 immersed in the liquid so that the wool is completely saturated. 

 Hard crusts of scab are broken up and removed with care, and 

 the raw surfaces are well washed with the decoction. The dip- 

 ped animals should be kept in a yard until the wool no longer 

 drips, lest the pasture should be fouled, and the sheep sickened by 

 the tobacco juice. After ten days the dipping is repeated to de- 

 stroy any newly hatched mites. With care the most badly in- 

 fected locality may be completely freed from this pest, and it will 

 never appear if the sheep are dipped twice each year as a preven- 

 tive. The gain in the growth of wool and in its improved quality 

 will more than repay the cost of the operation. (See page 48.) 



The Sheep Tick (MelopTiagus ovinus), has been already referred 

 to (page 48) ; if the process of dipping, just described, is regularly 

 practiced, this parasite will be easily vanquished, and its annoying 

 presence prevented. This insect propagates only by single eggs, 

 or rather the perfect pupa is expelled singly from the female, 



