446 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



as practicable, the ingredients being well mixed together. A 

 very good preparation may be made of 1 part of creosote, 10 

 parts of spirit, and 30 parts of water. This has been proved to 

 kill the parasites, when they are brought into contact with it, in 

 about 1| minutes. Another very useful but somewhat dangerous 

 application may be made by boiling 1 part of tobacco in about 

 25 parts of water ; and one more may be mentioned, viz. a 

 solution of sulphuret of potassium in about 7i parts of water. 



A sheep-dip has been recommended of the composition of 3 lb. 

 of arsenic, 3 lb. of carbonate of sodium (or of soda-ash, or of 

 pearl-ash), 3 lb. of soft soap, and 3 lb. of sulphur. These ingre- 

 dients may be dissolved in a quantity of boiling water, and the 

 resulting solution may be added to about 100 gallons of water. 



It is very highly important that sheep afflicted with scab 

 should be effectually cured, and in order to achieve this object 

 several dressings are often necessary at intervals of about a week 

 or so. It is impossible completely to express the utter folly of 

 bleeding sheep afflicted with scabies, and it may be said that 

 internal treatment is of little or no use. Fields in which the 

 contaminated sheep have been kept should not be used for sheep 

 for at least two months, and all rubbing places should be as far 

 as possible disinfected with carbolic acid solution, or painted, or 

 tarred. All wooden enclosures at markets should be replaced by 

 iron pens. Wood readily splinters, and portions of infected 

 wool, or the little creatures themselves, are easily preserved by 

 the woodwork from one market day to another. Moreover, after 

 each market or fair has come to a close, the pens and so on 

 should be well washed out with solution of carbolic acid in a 

 large quantity of water. Trucks and steamers used for con- 

 veyance of cattle and sheep should also be kept thoroughly 

 disinfected and clean. 



Farmers cannot be too careful in regard to sheep - scab. 

 Directly the disease manifests itself in any member of a flock of 

 sheep, prompt measures should at once be taken to stamp it out. 

 The disorder exists in England at the present time; there is 

 danger of its spreading, and it is, therefore, of urgent moment 

 that sheep-farmers should be well on their guard, and that the 

 malady should be arrested without the least delay. Sheep which 

 have been afflicted should at once be slaughtered, and their car- 

 cases should be buried, fleece and all. It is dangerous to use 



