Cattle-Fever Ticks. 13 



-free of ticks. If ticks continue on cattle until cold weather and then 

 finally disappear it should be borne in mind that in all probability 

 eradication has not been accomplished and that there may be en- 

 gorged females, unhatched eggs, and inactive seed ticks on the farm 

 or range, and that even if the cattle should remain free of ticks dur- 

 ing the winter thej'^ may become reinfested the following spring. In 

 any case in which ticks disappear from the cattle and treatment is 

 discontinued, the cattle should be watched very carefully for ticks 

 until ample time has elapsed to leave no doubt that eradication has 

 been accomplished. 



As a general rule it has been found that if dipping is begun in 

 ]\Iarch and systematically and thoroughly done, all cattle being 

 dipped every 14 days until November, complete eradication will be se- 

 cured. In dipping, each animal should be completely covered by the 

 dip. To prevent any animals from going through the vat without be- 

 coming wet all over, a man, provided with a forked stick, should be 

 stationed at the middle of the vat to shove under those that have not 

 been completely submerged. 



Dipping is the only realh' satisfactory method of treating animals 

 for ticks. In cases of emergency, however, or where there are not 

 cattle enough within a radius of several miles to w^arrant the con- 

 struction of a vat in which all the cattle of the community may be 

 dipped, spraying may be advisable. In spraying animals the work 

 should be done w^ith great thoroughness and every portion of the 

 body treated. An animal can not be sprayed properly unless it is 

 tied or otherwise held, nor can good results be obtained unless the 

 hair and skin are thoroughly wetted. 



RULE FOR CALCULATING THE CAPACITY OF A VAT. 



Thecai^acity of the vat is obtained usually in the following manner: 

 Multiply the average length by the average width in inches, then 

 multiply the product by the depth; this will give the approximate 

 number of cubic inches of space to be filled with dip. Divide this by 

 231 (the number of cubic inches in a gallon), and the result will be 

 the number of gallons of dip required to charge the vat. 



To obtain the average length, add the length at the bottom to the 

 length at the top (that is, at the line to which the vat is to be filled), 

 and divide the sum by 2. Obtain the average width in the same man- 

 ner. The depth should be taken at the center of the vat, and should 

 be from bottom to dip line only and not to the top of the vat. Like- 

 wise, in determining the length and width, measure only the space to 

 be filled with liquid and not above that line. Gauges or rods should be 

 prepared and marked to show the number of gallons at various 

 depths in the vat. 



