DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 445 



Stops up the pores of the skin, and so works a great deal of 

 mischief. It is really best to wash the ointment off, after it 

 has been on a day or two, and then to apply it again. The 

 risk of arresting the functions of the skin, which is a serious 

 one, may also be in some degree obviated by using lotions in 

 preference to ointments. 



In regard to mercurial ointment, we may say that it ought not 

 to be used at all for sheep, and it is our opinion that before very 

 long it will be altogether discarded. Undoubtedly it seems to 

 possess the power of poisoning the little creatures which cause 

 the scab; but, unfortunately, as we have said above, in this case 

 it is true that " what is sauce for the goose is likewise sauce for 

 the gander," and it is an undoubted fact that sheep are often 

 poisoned by the use of the ointment, and very frequently or even 

 generally mercurialised (salivated) by it, and thereby deteriorated 

 in value. The sheep may be seen to slaver profusely, their teeth 

 become loose or even come out, and it is no uncommon thing to 

 find that four or five sheep have died, and that many are greatly 

 debilitated. In not a few instances the fatal result may ensue 

 at about the tenth day after the application. 



Ruminants as a class, and of these especially sheep, are readily 

 poisoned by mercury, or by salts of mercury. In fact, it is very 

 necessary that sheep-farmers should realise the dangers occa- 

 sioned by *' salving." Besides the ointment of mercury, there 

 are other curative agents containing poisonous substances which 

 should be altogether avoided, or, at all events, very carefully 

 used ; for example, those concocted of auy of the salts of mer- 

 cury or of the preparations of arsenic. As a matter of fact these 

 should not be used, since they are very deleterious, and must be 

 condemned. Dressings which are not poisonous should alone 

 be used, and they ought not to be applied too thickly. 



We would wish to draw attention to a preparation composed 

 of stavesacre and sulphur, made by mixing together in equal 

 proportions the ointment of sulphur and that of stavesacre. For 

 the mode of preparation, which is very simple, of these two 

 unguents the reader is referred to the Veterinary Pharmacopoeia^ 

 by Gresswell, published by Messrs. Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, 

 of 20, King William Street, Strand (pp. 379 and 380). 



A preparation has been recommended composed of 2 parts 

 of oil of tar, 40 parts of castor oil or lard, and as much sulphur 



