494 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



tor should see to it that neither he nor the animals inhale any of the 

 spray. 



T\nien a vat is to be emptied the approved practice is to run the 

 waste bath into a pit properl}' guarded by a fence, where it will 

 gradually seep away under the surface and do no harm, provided 

 only that seepage can not be carried to a well, stream, or spring 

 from which any person or domestic animal may drink. 



The symptoms of arsenical poisoning are rather variable and also 

 depend on the size of the dose and the method of administration. 

 If an animal sickens or dies shortly after dipping it by no means fol- 

 lows that arsenical poisoning or any other effect of the dipping is the 

 cause. Very few cattle relative to the total number dipped have suf- 

 fered undoubted arsenical poisoning and in most of the cases the 

 cause could be traced to somebody's error or carelessness. 



In regard to arsenical poisoning of human beings there is a stand- 

 ard antidote, which may be obtained at any drug store with directions 

 for use. It should be kept on hand for emergencies. If the antidote 

 is not at hand the poison must be removed from the stomach by en- 

 couraging repeated vomiting, and soothing drinks such as milk, white 

 of eggs and water, or flour and water must be freely given mean- 

 while. A suspected case of arsenical poisoning must have the atten- 

 tion of a physician at the earliest possible moment, as sometimes the 

 poison works very quickly. 



Crude petroleum. — Various kinds of crude petroleum and emul- 

 sions of it have been used with more or less success in destroying 

 ticks, but on account of the difficulty of obtaining suitable grades of 

 oil and the liability of injury to cattle, their use has been practically 

 abandoned. 



Method of dipping. — Tlie method usually adopted in dipping 

 cattle is to construct a narrow swimming tank with a chute at one 

 end for the entrance of the cattle, and a sloping exit at the other end 

 when the cattle emerge after passing through the vat. (See PI. 

 XLIX, fig. 2.) A drip chute, or floor, is connected with the exit, 

 where the excess of dip is allowed to drip off the animals and to drain 

 into the vat. Plans and specifications for installing dipping plants 

 may be obtained from the Bureau of Animal Industry, Department 

 of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



TREATMENT. 



When Texas fever has broken out, all animals, the sick as well as 

 the healthy, should at once be removed to a noninfected pasture. 

 While this may not cut short the disease, it may save the lives of 

 some by removing them from the possibility of attack by more young 

 ticks. Removal from infected pastures likewise prevents a second 



