1910.] Prevention of Damage to Hides, etc. 627 



some deterrent dressing, e.g., an ointment of butter and 

 flowers of sulphur. 



"Infested sheep should be isolated, and the maggots should 

 be picked or rubbed off, or where they have got to work the 

 wool may be shorn a little, the affected parts being dressed 

 with a mixture of turpentine and rape oil in equal parts, 

 or with dilute paraffin oil, finishing off with a dusting of 

 sulphur." 



In order to assist in the discovery of cases of sheep-scab, 

 and indirectly of sheep attacked by maggots, the Deputation 

 mentioned above suggested that the Board should recommend 

 the appointment by County Councils of Patrol Shepherds, to 

 assist the Police. The Board agree that Patrol Shepherds 

 are very useful in wild and mountainous districts where 

 sheep-scab exists, and where there is common grazing, but 

 they could not suggest their employment in districts where 

 sheep-scab does not exist, nor in the fenced areas which con- 

 stitute the bulk of the agricultural land of the country. 



Risk of Injury to Skins by Sheep Dips. — Complaints have 

 been made to the Board that, with a view to the eradication 

 of sheep-scab, farmers occasionally use sheep dips at a 

 greater strength than is recommended, with the result that 

 the solution causes suffering to the sheep and injury to the 

 wool and skin. This is not likely to occur where approved 

 dips are used at the proper strength, but the question how 

 far dips are likely to affect the skin is being investigated in 

 the Board's Veterinary Laboratory. 



Experiments have shown that the use of strong arsenic or 

 sulphur dips is attended with some danger when treating 

 sheep affected with scab, especially if they are in low 

 condition or have sores on them. 



As regards the wool, the following advice on the selection 

 of dips is given in Leaflet 82 (Preparation of Wool for 

 Market) : — 



" In the selection of dips, care should be taken to use only 

 those that do not permanently stain the wool, and dipping 

 should not take place for some months before shearing. 



14 The results of experiments arranged by the Departmental 

 Committee, appointed by the Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries in April, 1903, to investigate and report upon the 



