Range Sheep 143 



tests that all of the standard dips are effective in killing 

 the ticks but the effect on the wool has not yet been dem- 

 onstrated with sufficient certainty to justify any positive 

 statements at this time. 



Dipping for scab, although the method of dipping is 

 the same as that for ticks, is quite another problem. 

 This is performed only when the disease is present or 

 when the band has been exposed. Such dipping should 

 be done at once under the directions of a competent man. 

 When allowed to spread, sheep scab causes a great financial 

 loss. These losses are caused by a decrease in production 

 of wool, loss in weight and general condition of animals, 

 and the death of large numbers of sheep. While this 

 disease is severe and highly contagious, it yields readily 

 to proper treatment. The state live-stock sanitary boards 

 or the United States Bureau of Animal Industry usually 

 take charge of the dipping for scab and all cases should 

 be reported at once to the state or federal authorities. 

 Lime and sulfur, nicotin, coal-tar-creosote and cresylic-acid 

 are dips commonly used for scab. Dipping for scab is 

 usually done twice at intervals of ten to fourteen days. 

 The entire band should be dipped regardless of number 

 bearing symptoms of the disease. The temperature of 

 the bath should be 100° to 105° F. for lime and sulfur 

 and nicotin dips and about 95° F. for the coal-tar-creosote 

 and cresylic-acid dips. The sheep should be held in the 

 dip for two to three minutes if the disease is not too ad- 

 vanced and three to five minutes in bad cases. The 

 sheep at dipping should have no cuts or sores, especially 

 if lime and sulfur is used, as blood poisons may result. 

 For this reason dogs that bite the sheep should be kept 

 out of the corrals. 



Often some weak sheep may get dip in its lungs or be 



