THE SCAB. 215 



milder ointment from the beginning, because I could go on to the very 

 end, without any fear of unpleasant consequences; and although the 

 cure is effected more slowly, the process is safer and surer. 



RECIPE (No. 14), 



Jilild Ointment for Scab. — Take flowers of sulphur, a pound; Venice turpentine, 

 four ounces ; rancid lard, two pounds ; strong mercurial ointment, four ounces. Rub 

 them well together. 



Flowers of sulphur must be used, and not the common black sul- 

 phur: that is the refuse of the sulphur, and is almost inert, except it 

 derives any power from the arsenic which is generally in combination 

 with it, and that would be a dangerous power. There are several 

 instances of animals being destroyed by the use of the black sulphur 

 in ointment, which had been empoisoned with arsenic. 



This ointment may be used at any time of the year; but the mer- 

 curial ointment is not safe in cold or wet weather. 



In very bad cases the following powerful ointment may be em- 

 ployed : — 



RECIPE (No. 15). 



Take white hellebore, three ounces; bichloride of mercury, two ounces; fish-oiU 

 twelvf! pounds; resin, six ounces; tallow, eight ounces. The two first ingredients to 

 be mixed with a part of the oil, and the other ingredients to be melted and added. 



Prevention is here again better than cure, and the practice of smear- 

 ing, and especially in cold and exposed situations, is very commend- 

 able. It is not a certain preventive, but it renders the animal less 

 likely to take the infection, and it is very comfortable and useful to 

 the sheep in protecting him from the cold, and hindering the wet from 

 penetrating to his skin. 



RECIPE (No. 16). 



Smearing^ Mixture. — Take a gallon of common tar and twelv^e pounds of any sweet 

 grease. Melt them together, stirring them well while they are cooling. 



Here, as in dressing for the scab, the wool should be parted in 

 rows from the head to the tail, three or four inches asunder, and the 

 mixture rubbed carefully with the finger at the bottom of each row. 

 The smeared fleece will not fetch so much per pound, but the increase 

 of weight, generally in the proportion of five to four, will more than 

 compensate for the diminution in price. The usual time for smearing 

 is in October, and the sheep are hardier and warmer, free from ver- 

 min, and generally free from scab; and this beingr the case, they 

 evidently thrive better, are sooner fit for the market, and weigh 

 heavier. 



It will be evident enough that every precaution ought to be taken 

 to prevent the re-appearance of this disease. Every rubbing-place of 

 every kind should be thorouofhly washed with chloride of lime, and 

 every sheep tliat begins again to ferret immediately separated from 

 the flock. 



The scab appears under an exceedingly virulent form in some 

 mountainous ;> \rts of the country, and particularly in Scotland Mr. 

 Stevenson, in ais communications to the Highland Society, th is de- 

 15 



