136 VETERINARY STUDIES 



Practical suggestions. — Each sheep should be kept in the dip 

 at least two minutes by the watch, and each sheep should go 

 under entirely at least once. Three to five minutes are neces- 

 sary for bad cases with heavy crusts. Heavily pregnant ewes 

 can be safely dipped if handled with care. 



Ewes, lambs, and bucks should be dipped in separate lots. It 

 is not advisable usually to dip sheep that have recent wounds 

 even if the wounds are small unless they are nearly healed. Al- 

 ways water and feed well within three to five hours before dip- 

 ping. Soft water makes the best dip. The solution should be 

 from 40 to 48 inches deep, with an allowance made for each 

 sheep to carry out in the wool, two quarts to two gallons, depend- 

 ing on the wool. 



Drowning and other accidents can be avoided by watchful 

 care. Lambs may be dipped at about one month old. 



In using any dip no matter if proprietary or homemade, fol- 

 low directions exactly. It is not uncommon for stockmen to 

 have unsatisfactory results from the use of well-recognized dips, 

 usually because they try the dip a little weaker than the direc- 

 tions call for, or because they were a little careless and hurried 

 the sheep through the dipping vat too rapidly, or by returning 

 the sheep after dipping to infected pastures or yards. 



For a small flock the portable galvanized vats are very con- 

 venient. There should be at least one drainage pen with floor 

 to carry the dip from the dripping sheep back to the vat. Two 

 such pens are a great convenience. 



Disinfection. — All structures, sheds, pens, posts, etc., that may 

 have been contaminated should be cleaned and well disinfected 

 unless sheep can be kept away from them for a long period, as 

 previously indicated. 



Any good dip should make also a good disinfectant for this 

 use. In case a lime-and-sulphur dip is selected, then the ' ' ooze ' ' 

 or sediment which will otherwise be discarded may be used. 

 Plowing or burning over ground makes it safe. 



