132 ON REMEDIES. 



effect upon the wool, softens the skin when hardened 

 by the itch, and cures it. The application will be 

 made more powerful by increasing the oil of tur- 

 pentine. 



Q. How is the ointment used for the itch ? 



A. It is < ;isy to use it without cutting off the wool 

 from the diseased part : it is sufficient to separate 

 the flakes so as to expose the itchy part, when the 

 shepherd rubs the skin with his scratcher, only to 

 remove the scabs, and then applies and spreads the 

 ointment with his finger. 



Q. Is the scratcher sufficient for rubbing the skin 

 diseased with in the itch ? 



A. There is a bad custom of rubbing the skin of 

 scabby sheep with a tesson, or a piece of brick, until 

 it bleeds ; a small wound is thereby made, which in- 

 creases the evil : our author furnished his shepherd 

 with a single instrument, which he says is sufficient 

 for all the operations to be performed on sheep : it is 

 a sort of incision knife, made sharp on each side of 

 the point, and answers for a lancet ; while at the end 

 of the handle is placed a blade of bone or ivory, to be 

 used for a scratcher. 



Q. Under what circumstances, is it proper to use 

 the ointment for the itch ? 



A. When some signs of the itch appear, it is prop- 

 er to use the ointment, immediately : however, if it is 

 supposed that the disease proceeds from fatigue, or 

 from the heat of stables, from the scarcity or bad qual- 

 ity of food, it is necessary to remove the cause of the 

 evil, because it would be adverse to the effect of the 



