Essay on Sheep, — Appendix, 179 



on the subject than that which I have men- 

 tioned, I can say nothhig as to the efficacy of 

 the harsh remedies proposed. 



Pelt-Rot, — This is often mistaken for the 

 scab, but is in fact a different and less dangerous 

 disease: in this the wool will fall off, and leave 

 the sheep nearly naked; but it is attended with 

 no soreness, though a white crust will cover 

 the skin from which the wool has dropped. It 

 generally arises from hard keeping and much 

 exposure to cold and wet, and, in fact, the ani- 

 mal often dies in severe weather from the cold 

 it suffers by the loss of its coat. The remedy 

 is full feeding, a warm stall, and anointing the 

 hard part of the skin with tar, oil, and butter. 



Tick, — This insect is extremely hurtful to 

 sheep; it often reduces their flesh by the pain 

 it induces, and spoils their wool by their tang- 

 ling and rubbing it against trees and fences. 

 Lean sheep are frequently so covered by them 

 as to occasion their death. The remedies ap- 

 plied in England are solutions of arsenick or 

 corrosive sublimate, and decoctions of tobacco. 

 The first are dangerous to the operator, and 

 may occasion fatal accidents; the last are 

 hurtful to the sheep, if not carefully applied; 

 but all are ineffectual on thick-woollcd sheep, 

 because it is impossible to diffuse tlicm equally. 



