DIPPING SHEEP FOR TICKS AND SCABS 427 



(2) that its continued use tends to lessen wool produc- 

 tion ; (3) that it leads to greater shrinkage in the weight 

 of the sheep; (4) that it sometimes produces blood poi- 

 soning; and (5) that it is not always effective in killing 

 scab. The first objection is at least measurably true. The 

 harm does consist mainly in a change in the microscopic 

 structure of the fiber resulting from the caustic action of 

 the dip. The injury increases with length and fineness 

 of the wool, and with increase of sediment in the dip. 

 Wools thus treated shrink more than other wools, do not 

 scour so readily and do not take dye so uniformly. But 

 when the sheep are dipped soon after shearing, this ob- 

 jection would not apply. The other objections have not 

 been sustained by proof. Much of the injury complained 

 of has been the outcome of using solutions wrongly com- 

 pounded and improperly prepared. It would seem correct 

 to say that no dip has ever been used so extensively and 

 with more effectiveness. Moreover it is one of the cheap- 

 est of dips. 



It is prepared as follows : To make 100 gallons of the 

 dip, weigh out eight pounds of unslaked lime and 24 

 pounds of the flowers of sulphur. Place the lime in a ket- 

 tle and add enough water to make a lime paste. Add to 

 this the sulphur by sifting it in and so stirring the mass 

 as to thoroughly mix the ingredients. Add to the mix- 

 ture 25 to 30 gallons of boiling water and boil for at least 

 two hours, stirring the mixture and sediment frequently 

 during the boiling process. The boiling should be con- 

 tinued until the sulphur disappears, or almost disappears, 

 from the surface of the solution, which is then of a more 

 or less chocolate color. Water is added as necessary. 

 Then pour the mixture and sediment into a kerosene 

 barrel or other vessel placed near the dipping vat and 

 provided with a bunghole about 4 inches from the bottom 

 Allow ample time for the solution to settle, at least two 

 or three hours, and then draw off the liquid by the aid 

 of a spigot. This is much superior to the method of re- 



