94 The Shepherds' Gv'ide. 



ver: changing the natural secretion of the skin 

 from a so it greasy yolk, to a dry filthy scurt, in- 

 juring the wool, and still further, obstructing the 

 perspiration until the anim.il, especially in the 

 winter season, becomes dangerously diseased. 



It is safest, however, not to neglect either of 

 these cases ; and where there exists the slightest 

 suspicion of scab, to treat k as such, lest it 

 spread into the flock, to our great annoyance, and 

 we pay severely for a very trifling neglect. And 

 it fortunately happens, that the remedy recom- 

 mended by Mons Daubenton, for the scab, 

 which is composed of oil of turpentine, mixed 

 with four or six times its weight of train oil or 

 hog's lard, is healthy for the sheep, and beneficial 

 to the wool, as likely as any other to dissolve 

 the hardened yolk ; and by its kindly warmth pro- 

 mote a more healthy secretion from the skin. 

 The afl'ected part being first freed from the wool, 

 and scratched with the finger until the scab is re- 

 moved, is to be Vv^eli rubbed with this ointment. 

 This being repeated once or twice in the course of 

 a week, will always palliate the symptoms, and 

 may cure slighter cases of scab. But in the more 

 severe cases, such as v/e have lately seen, I 

 ki^ow, from undoubted experience, that it will not 

 cure the scab in the winter season. Although, 

 thereiore, I would always recommend it during 

 winter as a p:\lliative, it is not to be depended 

 on lor the perfect cure ; and as soon as the spring 



