184 Veterinary Medicine. 



In applying acaricides to sheep the mode of application is 

 largely determined by the thickness of the fleece. If in the warm 

 season the sheep should be shorn, the affected animals in such a 

 case being kept scrupulously apart from the sound ones. If only 

 one or two sheep are affected a careful watch and a thorough 

 local application of any one of the antipsoric remedies may suc- 

 ceed. When more generally affected the only safe course is to 

 treat the entire flock, and for this there have been different 

 methods followed in different countries. These may be divided 

 into smearing, pouring and bathing. Smearing or pouritig 

 implies cheap labor to make it economical, yet it may be made to 

 stimulate and improve the wool so as to partly pay for the extra 

 outlay. Baths being more rapidly applied and more economical 

 are usually adopted when large numbers of sheep have to be 

 treated. With either method, the scabs that accummulate in old 

 standing cases should be first broken up so as to allow of an 

 universal penetration of the medicinal agent. The surface may 

 be well scraped with a wooden spatula using the edge and flat 

 alternately until the scabs are thoroughly broken up (Delafond). 

 The skin should be first wetted with some antipsoric application 

 and the scraping should be done outside the .fold and any high- 

 way or enclosure to which sheep have access. Another method 

 is to plunge the sheep for two minutes in a warm (80° F) soapy bath 

 (soap 2 lbs. water 22 gallons) and to brush or break up with 

 the fingers any scabs that may be present. This is, however, 

 usually combined with the antipsoric bath, the immersion being 

 kept up for 3 minutes. To avoid indigestion the dressing should 

 not be made until four or five hours after a full meal. 



Smearing. In exposed hilly regions, like the Highlands of 

 Scotland, smearing is largely employed, as it at the same time 

 protects the dorsal part of the fleece and skin from the rain rot 

 which is so injurious in central and northern Europe. The old 

 standard salve was made with 6 lbs. butter and i gallon wood tar. 

 As this reddens and depreciates the wool it may be replaced by 

 18 lbs. each of crude turpentine (white pine gum) and lard, and 

 y2 gallon of sweet oil. Or 18 lbs. of crude turpentine and 22 lbs, 

 castor oil. The last is to be preferred as stimulating and improv- 

 ing the growth of wool. In case of scab its application is to be 

 preceded by the scraping referred to above, or the wool must be 



