STATE HYGIENE 525 



would make the period shorter, giving the farmers warning 

 of what was about to follow, inviting them to dip their 

 sheep, and giving them a certain number of months to 

 get their flocks clean. 



Under either conditions a uniform system of regulations 

 applicable to the whole country must be adopted, and 

 therefore not under local authorities. 



The duties of the latter must be confined to providing 

 ' baths ' at the most convenient centres, and here their local 

 knowledge is useful. The cost of these should be defrayed 

 by the charge made for dipping and not out of the local 

 rates. Under the Act of 1903 it is rendered permissive for 

 local authorities to provide dipping-baths. 



The proper time for universal dipping is after shearing, 

 as a full grown fleece greatly hinders the penetration of 

 the parasiticide. 



The following considerations regarding dipping should be 

 borne in mind : 



1. Sufficient immersion, one minute for ordinary sheep, 

 two minutes for those affected with scabies ; during the 

 swim the head to be at least twice pushed under. If a long 

 swim bath is not available, the dipping must be done by the 

 watch, and in the smaller or portable baths, where the work 

 is being done on a small scale, it may be necessary to rub 

 the ' dip ' well into the skin. 



2. In a properly constructed bath there is a place where 

 the animals stand while the fluid drips from the skin, and 

 this by a simple arrangement is returned to the bath. 

 Where the number dealt with is small, the superfluous fluid 

 may be pressed out with the hand. 



3. It is best for the sheep to be dropped in head first, not 

 only to insure thorough immersion, but the risk of swallow- 

 ing fluid is much less. 



4. Very hot or wet days are not good for dipping pur- 

 poses ; nor should sheep be dipped either when they are hot 

 or thirsty. 



5. After dipping they should remain in properly con. 

 structed pens for an hour or two until it is safe to allow 



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