i9io.] 



Caution to Flock-owners. 



239 



The dip-bath should not be made up by mixing together different 

 kinds of dip. 



The dipping of sheep is the only practicable and certain remedy for 

 sheep-scab, and two dippings within twenty-one days are necessary for 

 a complete cure, since the unhatched acari of 

 Caution to Flock- sheep-scab are not always killed by the dip. 

 owners in regard to The second dipping should take place between 

 the Dipping of Sheep, the tenth and twenty-first day. During the 

 interval any eggs not destroyed by the first 

 dipping will most probably have hatched out, but the laying of eggs by 

 the new generation of acari will not have commenced, so that when the 

 second dipping takes place there will be only living acari to destroy. 

 Dipping must be efficiently and effectually carried out as regards each 

 sheep. 



Sheep-scab may exist unrecognised in a flock for from two to three 

 months or even longer, and usually manifests itself in early winter. 

 If, as a matter of precaution, all sheep in a district are twice dipped at 

 the above intervals the disease should be effectually eradicated in a year 

 or two provided that all persons concerned co-operate in making the 

 dipping thorough and complete, and that any outbreaks of sheep-scab 

 that occur in the interval are energetically dealt with under the Sheep- 

 Scab Order of 1905. 



Dipping to be effective against sheep-scab must be carried out with 

 an efficient dip, and a dip bath of sufficient volume must be made up 

 strictly in accordance with the directions issued by the makers of the 

 dip. Each sheep must be completely immersed for the period required 

 by the directions, and the dip bath must be at all times kept up to the 

 required strength, and be kept clear of dirt. 



To comply with the Board's Orders requiring dipping of sheep the 

 dip must be one approved by the Board, under the Sheep-Scab Order 

 of 1905. Approved dips have to contain sufficient of one constituent to 

 make the dip effective for the cure of sheep-scab at the strength 

 approved. It is therefore inadvisable to make up the dip bath by mixing 

 two or more dips containing different ingredients, even in cases where 

 each dip has been approved for use by itself. For example, to mix 

 carbolic and arsenic dips may result in destroying the efficacy of both 

 ingredients, and even the mixing of dips Containing the same ingredients 

 may result in the bath being below standard. In some cases, also, the 

 use of mixed dips may injure the sheep. 



Unless the above requirements are strictly carried out the whole 

 utility of the dipping operation may be nullified and the labour of 

 collecting and dipping the sheep, as well as the money expended on 

 the purchase of the dip, be thrown away. 



Where a professional sheep dipper is employed the flockowner should 

 be careful to satisfy himself that the dip used is an approved one by 

 requiring the production of the Board's approval. In cases of doubt a 

 sample of the dip should be taken for the purposes of analysis. 



