DISEASES OF CATTLE 381 



Mix the dip thoroughly in the dipping vat by stirring length- 

 wise in the vat, also from top to bottom. A large hoe is a good in- 

 strument to use in stirring. After the dip is thoroughly mixed, take 

 the temperature at different parts of the vat ; see that it is uniform, 

 and, if too hot or too cold, add hot or cold water with proper pro- 

 portion of dip until the right temperature is obtained; be careful to 

 have all well mixed. The temperature of the dip when used should 

 be from 102 to 110 F. 



To ascertain the temperature, take some of the dip out of the 

 vat in a bucket, hold the thermometer in it, and read the tempera- 

 ture while it is in the fluid. The dip must be changed as soon as it 

 becomes filthy, regardless of the number of cattle dipped in it, and 

 in no case should it be used when more than ten days old. When 

 there is any doubt as to the good quality and proper strength of 

 the dip, or if it seems to have deteriorated by standing, by freezing, 

 or by being fouled by use, do not depend upon it, but throw it away, 

 clean out the dipping vat, and make new dip. In emptying the vat 

 the entire contents must be removed, including all sediment and 

 droppings and other foreign matter. 



In order to attain success in the treatment of mange, care and 

 thoroughness of method must be observed. Animals that have been 

 exposed should be dipped as well as those that show distinct evi- 

 dences of the disease. After the lapse of ten days or two weeks fol- 

 lowing the first dipping, the animals should be subjected to a second 

 dipping, in order that parasites which may have survived the first 

 treatment, or which may have gotten on the animals from corrals, 

 sheds, buildings, or elsewhere, may be destroyed. Careful examina- 

 tions of thousands of cattle, thirty to forty days after being put 

 through the dip for the second time, have failed to reveal evidences 

 of scabies on any of them. 



The dip liquid in the tanks during the whole dipping process 

 should be kept at the temperature before stated from 102 to 110 

 F. Each animal should be kept two minutes in the dip, and be put 

 completely under twice during that time. All bad cases should be 

 hand-rubbed and kept in the dip four minutes. 



Pregnant cows have been treated, as well as cattle of all ages, 

 from calves to full-grown steers, with the loss of but one animal in 

 one of the swimming tanks. This was a steer which for some un- 

 known reason seemed to be unable to swim and was drowned. It 

 would appear that the dipping of cows, when proper care is taken 

 especially to prevent crowding in the chutes has no appreciable 

 effect upon abortions, as a comparison with previous years showed 

 that the dipping had not increased the average number of abortions 

 regularly occurring among these herds before dips were used. 



SMALL DIPPING PLANTS. 



Of the various dipping plants in use, there are probably three 

 that need description: (1) The small dipping plant, with cage for 

 lowering cattle into dipping tank, which is inexpensive and suitable 

 for use by a community of fanners; (2) the larger dipping plant 

 with swimming tank, such as will be needed if large numbers of 



