DIPPING SHEEP FOR TICKS AND SCABS 429 



with water ready for use they form a more or less soapy, 

 transparent solution. While they have proved very effec- 

 tive in the treatment of sheep scab, to their use there is 

 the serious objection that they tend to leave the wool 

 in a dry and harsh condition. Because of this defect cresol 

 dips are not so likely to come into general use as creo- 

 sote dips. These dips are also affected with reference to 

 their efficacy by the kind of water used. Soft water is 

 much superior to hard water, since the former emulsifies 

 more readily. Hard water is greatly improved by the 

 addition of lye in the manner practiced in laundries. Be- 

 cause of the complicated character of the ingredients that 

 enter into the composition of these dips, those who use 

 them will probably find it to their advantage to use a 

 proprietary coal tar dip which has the approval of the 

 United States department of agriculture and in the pro- 

 portions specified by the department. 



Carbolic dips have carbolic acid as their base. These 

 dips kill parasites very quickly, but the wash soon leaves 

 the wool, hence re-infection is soon made possible. To 

 prevent such a result one pound of the flowers of sulphur 

 should be added to each six gallons of the dip. These 

 dips are both homemade and proprietary. The benefits 

 from using these dips include the following: (i) The pre- 

 pared dips are very easily and readily prepared for use ; 

 (2) they act more quickly than tobacco and sulphur dips ; 

 and (3) they are apparently more harmful to the ticks 

 than the dips just named. The disadvantages are: (i) 

 That in the proprietary dips of this class the flockmaster 

 is ignorant of the exact character of the materials that he 

 is using and consequently of their value ; (2) that the set- 

 back to the sheep has been shown to be greater than with 

 some other dips; and (3) they are relatively costly. If 

 carbolic dips are used, care must be taken that they form 

 an emulsion if they are to be properly effective. If a scum 

 arises on thetop, a softer water ought to be used. Mean- 



