430 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



time the department of agriculture has not recommended 

 the use of these dips. 



Arsenical dips which are both homemade and pro- 

 prietary have arsenic as their base. Very great caution 

 should be observed when using these dips because of their 

 highly poisonous character. 



A formula that has received high commendation in 

 certain quarters is the following: Commercially pure 

 arsenite of soda 14 pounds, ground roll sulphur 34^ 

 pounds, water 432 gallons. The arsenite of soda should 

 be thoroughly mixed with the sulphur before adding the 

 water. 



The advantages from using it are: (i) That it has 

 scab-curing properties, and (2) that because of this it 

 enters into the composition of a number of dipping pow- 

 ders, some of which have been long and more or less ef- 

 fectively used. But to its use there are the following dis- 

 advantages : (i) Arsenic is a deadly poison, and is there- 

 fore dangerous to the sheep, and in some degree to those 

 who use it unless much care is exercised in handling it; 

 (2) it has a drying effect on the wool, weakens the fiber 

 of the new growth that immediately follows, and fails to 

 stimulate the growth of the wool as good oleaginous dips 

 do; (3) it tends to throw the sheep off their feed for sev- 

 eral days, in some instances at least, after the dipping; 

 (4) its frequent effect on the skin is to produce excoria- 

 tion, blistering and hardness. After the dipping the yards 

 into which the sheep are turned should be completely 

 destitute of food and litter. Every facility should be 

 given to sheep to dry quickly, and on no account should 

 they be turned on to the pastures until the dripping has 

 ceased. Even after it has ceased, the danger is sometimes 

 present for a time that rain may wash enough of the 

 arsenic out of the fleece to render the pastures dangerous 

 at least for a time. The United States department of 

 agriculture has not put the stamp of approval on those 

 dips. 



