DIPS AND DIPPING. 267 



of the flock, consequent upon the improved condition of the 

 skin, the removal of the injurious and tormenting parasites, 

 and the resulting improved growth of the fleece. In general, 

 this process is thought to be merely necessary for the cure or 

 escape from that pestilent disease, the scab; but really 

 this is only one incident in the question as to how many 

 times in the year we ought to dip the sheep. 



Upon reflection, as to the nature of wool, and its com- 

 plete relationship to the skin, we may well be assured that 

 whatever conduces to a healthful condition of the skin is 

 equally conducive to the welfare of the fleece, and the gen- 

 eral experience of those large sheep owners who have prac- 

 ticed a biennial dipping of their flocks, goes to prove be- 

 yond question that it has more than paid the whole cost 

 in the increased yield of the fleece, as well as the improved 

 condition of it, by which its market value has been increased 

 sufficiently to return every dollar expended in the process, 

 besides insuring such comfort to the flock as has greatly aided 

 in their feeding for market; in the ability of the ewes to 

 bear and feed better lambs; in the growth of the lambs; 

 and in the important saving in labor consequent upon this 

 betterment of the flocks. The comfort of mind of the shep- 

 herd is also something to be thought of in this connection; 

 for when the flock is known to be free from all the discom- 

 forts and diseases incident to a diseased skin, and the per- 

 secution by bloodthirsty parasites, the shepherd may be 

 happy by day and by night, and enjoy the sweet sleep which 

 is the perquisite of the just and industrious and thoughtful 

 and successful man. 



There are a great many kinds of dips, and of all that we 

 are acquainted with, there is only one which is not useful 

 and effective for the purpose, and what is of the greatest 

 importance safe for the sheep, and fatal to the parasite for 

 the destruction of which the dipping is practiced. But more 

 than this, every one of these dips are really antiseptics; that 

 is, while they destroy injurious parasites the scab-mite, 

 the bloodthirsty tick, the lice and the fungoid parasites of 

 the wool, as well as of the skin they cleanse the skin from 

 the accumulated gathering of its secretions; they open the 

 pores to a healthful function; and thus free the sheep's 

 system from the dangerous probability of the absorption of 



