. Cattle-Fever Ticks. 31 



On similar grounds is based the important general rule never to 

 use in the spring a bath carried over the winter. Such a bath usuall}'- 

 will have become largely oxidized so that when brought up to 

 strength as respects actual arsenious oxid it may be dangerously 

 high in total arsenic. It is at the first one or two dippings in the 

 spring that cattle are most prone to suffer injury, especially when 

 the}^ have come through the winter in poor condition or are still in 

 long hair. They must therefore at least be given the advantage of 

 being dipped in a fresh, clean bath. 



PRECAUTIONS IN THE USE OF ARSENIC AND ARSENICAL DIPS. 



The fact that arsenic is a violent poison is what renders it valuable, 

 for the fever tick is hard to kill. But, like a keen-edged tool, it may 

 be decidedly dangerous if ignorantly or carelessly handled. Three 

 possibilities of danger must be kept constantly in mind; danger to 

 oneself, danger to other persons, danger to animals. 



The dry, powdered white arsenic should be kept in a tightly 

 covered pail, plainly labeled. Paper bags are unsafe because they 

 easily burst, and arsenic so scattered about looks harmless enough. 

 In weighing or otherwise handling the arsenic avoid raising dust 

 or breathing it in, if raised, and keep it off the skin and clothing. 

 In mixing or boiling stock solutions work only in a well-ventilated 

 place, and on the windward side of the kettle so that steam arising 

 from it will not be inhaled. 



The stock solutions are in some respects more dangerous than the 

 original substance because the arsenic in them is already in solution 

 and can act very quickly. If any gets on the skin or clothing it 

 must be washed off without delay. Cattle must be kept away from 

 such solutions or from anything that has been in contact with them, 

 for cattle craving salt have been poisoned by licking the outside of 

 leaky barrels and by licking the earth around dipping vats where 

 a little concentrate had been carelessly spilled in charging the vat. 

 All such poisoned earth must be removed, buried and replaced by 

 fresh. 



The diluted bath is naturally much less dangerous, but no chances 

 can be taken with it. No puddles from which animals may drink 

 should be allowed to accumulate. The persons who do the dipping 

 should not allow the skin or clothing to be wet by the dip any more 

 or any longer than absolutely necessary. Wlien spraying, the opera- 

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

 spray. 



When a vat is to be emptied the approved practice is to run thp 



waste bath into a pit properly guarded by a fence, where it will 



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



