Psoroptic Acariasis in Sheep. 187 



passed through the bath. As a general dip therefore, in all sorts 

 of hands, it cannot be recommended as safe. It belongs to the 

 same class with the dustings and sprayings of plants with Paris 

 green and Bordeaux mixture, which have so greatly encreased 

 the mortality of farm animals in recent years. 



Mercurial dips have also been widely used and are to be con- 

 demned even more than arsenical, the agent being absorbed 

 through the skin, and exposing the sheep in some instances to 

 salivation and in others to fatal congestions of the lungs and other 

 internal organs when the subjects have been exposed to cold. 

 The bath is usually a watery solution of corrosive sublimate vary- 

 from I in 500 to i in 50. 



Lime and Sulphur Dips are devoid of danger to life and are 

 very effective in dealing with scab and other insect invasions of 

 the skin. They are objected to as tending to dry the wool and 

 render it brittle and there is a grain of truth in the charge. It 

 is only, however, the free lime in the dip that operates in this 

 way and therefore if it is made with an excess of sulphur and 

 boiled long enough to transform all the lime into the sulphur 

 compound the evil is reduced to a minimum. Again, when ap- 

 plied, as it usually is immediately after shearing, the whole objec- 

 tion falls to the ground. The combining proportions of sulphur 

 and calcium are as 3 to 4, but as an excess of sulphur is an 

 advantage, and as the volatile sulphur is liable to be lost in part 

 in the preparation, it is best to use that in considerable excess. 

 The Victorian preparation of 20 parts of sulphur to 10 parts of 

 quick lime and 100 gallons of water is a commendable mixture. 

 The sulphur and lime are boiled for at least two hours in 25 gallons 

 of water, fresh water being added as required. It is then diluted 

 to make 100 gallons, and left until all sediment is thrown down. 

 The clear liquid only should be taken and used in the bath. Like 

 the other dips it should be used warm. 



If it is desired a tobacco decoction can be added, but this is not 

 necessary to make it effectual. 



Potassium Sulphide makes an effectual acaricide. Gillette 

 used 4^ lbs. potash lye, 16 lbs. sulphur and 100 gallons of water. 

 Long and thorough boiling is as important here as in the lime 

 and sulphur preparation. 



Carbolic Acid Dips may be made with 2 to 5 per cent, of 



