426 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



If the dip is too hot, it will scald; if too cold, it will be less 

 effective. The water may be heated in a large kettle and kept 

 hot by throwing red-hot irons or heated stones into the tank. 

 This is a very convenient way to heat the dip if any remains in 

 the tank. The water should be softened by the addition of 

 enough concentrated lye to give it an oily feeling like soap 

 suds, or by the addition of wood ashes. 



The best dip to use is some one of the coal-tar preparations, as 

 Zenoleum, Naptholeum, Daytholeum, Milk Oil, and the like. 

 These are fairly cheap, very effective, cleansing to the skin, heal- 

 ing to diseased eyes and mouth, pleasant to use, and sure death 

 to all forms of parasite life. The direction given on the cans in 

 which the coal-tar comes is to use at a strength of one part 

 of dip to 100 parts water. While this is strong enough to kill 

 ticks, it is not sufficient to remove scab germs. When the sheep 

 have first arrived or when dipping for scab, use one part dip to 

 40 parts water. 



When dipping for ticks, one minute is sufficient length of time 

 for the sheep to remain in the solution. When dipping new ar- 

 rivals or for scab, the sheep should remain in the dip two minutes 

 and the head should be immersed twice. With the dip hot, the 

 water softened, the dip used at a strength of 1 to 40, and the 

 sheep left in for two minutes, all external parasitic life will be 

 destroyed. If scab is suspected, the dipping should be repeated 

 in eight to ten days, as the dip will not kill the eggs, and a second 

 dipping is essential completely to eradicate the scab mites. 



Frequency of dipping. — All sheep arriving at the farm should 

 be dipped before they infect the lots. In addition to this the 

 entire flock should be dipped at least once a year, and it will be 

 the better for it if dipped twice annually. One dipping should 

 take place soon after shearing, as less dip will be required. It 

 should not, however, follow too closely after shearing. A 

 pleasant day should be selected, and the sheep should be well 

 protected until dry. It will take them several hours to dry 



