210 INORGANIC AGENTS 



but, on the other hand, the danger is slight if a large enongh 

 quantity is applied to cause rapid sloughing. Arsenic is the 

 principal constituent of so-called " sheep-dips " employed 

 to kill ticks and other parasites in the wool. Finlay Dun 

 recommends 2J lbs. of arsenous acid with an equal 

 amount of pearl ash, soft soap, and sulphur, dissolved in 10 

 gallons of boiling water and added to 90 gallons of cold 

 water. This quantity will suffice for dipping 100 sheep. 

 The sheep are submerged, except their heads, for a few 

 seconds, and placed on a grating to drain into a tub, from 

 which the water flows back into the first receptacle. The 

 excess of water in their fleeces is squeezed out with the 

 hands and a scraper. Sheep have been poisoned after 

 dipping, by eating grass and fodder on which they have 

 drained ; therefore the sheep should always be kept on clean 

 floors or yards in the open air and sunlight until they have 

 become thoroughly dry. Sulpho-naphtol (1-100) or creolin 

 are preferable for this purpose, since they are as effective 

 and safer. 



Uses Internal. — Arsenic is of the greatest service in the 

 treatment of indigestion in horses associated with malnutri- 

 tion and staring coat. In this condition, arsenous acid is 

 often combined with sodium bicarbonate and nux vomica, 

 and may be given in powder on the food. It is also of value 

 in atonic diarrhoea, and is used in both the serous and 

 dysenteric varieties. In diminishing tissue change, and in 

 acting as a blood tonic, arsenic is believed to improve the 

 condition, endurance, and wind in horses, and is popularly 

 prescribed by dealers and others. 



The classical case of the arsenic-eating peasants of 

 Styria seems to corroborate this view. These people appear 

 to be very robust and healthy. Five grains of arsenic was 

 given experimentally to one of them without producing any 

 untoward effect. Arsenic seems to influence favorably 

 diseased mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, to 

 improve their nutrition, and hasten absorption and repair 

 in diseases of the air passages. Coryza, ozoena, chronic 



