THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 399 



which has an appearance of bemg fretted on the skin, 

 should be taken away to be cured. 



Causes. — This is a very infectious disease. It sel- 

 dom appears among sheep which have been smeared, 

 and when it does, it probably proceeds from the touch 

 of a diseased animal, of a stone, or a tree, or paling, 

 on which scabbed sheep have rubbed themselves. 



Cure. — Several ointments have been proposed for 

 the cure of this disease, and that of Sir Joseph Banks 

 seems to have been most approved of. His prescrip- 

 tions, however, can only be made by an apothecary, a 

 personage not always at hand, and who may not 

 always have sheep ointment ready when wanted. Every 

 apothecary has abundance of mercurial ointment at all 

 times, and if a shepherd purchases a quantity of it to 

 keep by him, and with a little oil of turpentine, he may 

 always have it in his power to make up ointment when 

 required, and of such a degree of strength as he may 

 judge proper. 



The following directions may be found useful : — 

 take 



Strong Mercurial Ointment - 4 pounds. 

 Gil of Turpentine - - - half a pint. 



Hog's Lard, Tallow, or Butter - 4 pounds. 



Melt the hog's lard, or butter, allow them to settle, 

 and pour off the clear liquid ; then add the mercurial 

 ointment ; stirring the whole well till it be melted and 

 incorporated, and then add the oil of turpentine. Keep 

 stirring the mixture for a minute or two, that the 

 mercury may be completely mixed, and then pour the 

 whole into some shallow vessels, that the ointment 

 may cool quickly. If the mercury should appear to 

 nave sunk whep the ointment is cold, it may be 



