DIPPING SHEEP FOR TICKS AND SCABS 439 



be possessed of a higher temperature than the dip in the 

 vat, and also of a higher temperature than is called for in 

 the dipping process. The most desirable temperature Is 

 100 to no degrees, the internal temperature of the sheep 

 being about 103 degrees F. 



The time that the sheep should remain in the dip will 

 vary, first, with the strength of the dip used, and second, 

 with the nature of the parasite that is causing trouble. 

 When dipping for ticks, the sheep should be in the dip for 

 at least one minute, and when dipping for scab for not 

 less than two minutes. When dipping for scab, it is 

 greatly important that the sheep remain full time in the 

 dip, as many mites are under the scales which are not 

 readily reached by the dips. The head of each sheep 

 should also be plunged beneath the dip before it is 

 allowed to emerge from the same, except in the case of 

 such poisonous dips as the arsenical and carbolic dips. 



It is greatly important that the dipping for scab shall 

 be effective. If any of the mites survive underneath the 

 scabs they may lay eggs between the dippings that will 

 not be hatched out before the second dipping. Should 

 this happen, a third dipping may be necessary. To pre- 

 vent such a contingency, some have advocated the use of 

 a preliminary dip to soften the scabs. This is applied 

 two or three days prior to the first dipping. In almost all 

 instances, however, the first dipping is given in the usual 

 way, and if properly done the instances are very few 

 when a third dipping is necessary. Where only a small 

 flock is to be treated, it would be practicable, and it may 

 also be economical, to rub oil of glycerine over the scabby 

 places two or three days prior to the first dipping. With 

 sheep newly shorn this treatment would not be difficult. 



When dipping sheep, it is greatly important that they 

 shall be carefully handled. They are much averse to tak- 

 ing a plunge bath, and when they try to escape from it 

 there is neither reason nor justification in handling them 

 roughly. They are easily injured. When heavy sheep 



