568 



DISBASES OF THE SKIN. 



The patients thus prepared are bathed twice, at an interval of 

 one week, in an aqueous solution of cresol, 2J per cent. (6J litres 

 of cresol in 250 litres of water — for 100 sheep). The cost of this 

 bath is about 10 francs. It is prepared by adding cresol to warm 

 water (30° R.) and stirring the solution. Immersion ought to last 

 for three minutes; immediately afterward the sheep is brushed hard 

 upon the whole surface of the body; when this manœuvre is ended, 

 the animal is to be dipped a second time into the liquid for a few 

 moments. The manner of holding the animal in the bath and the 

 various manipulations do not need any particular indication. It is 

 important not to act too precipitately, and to watch the workman 

 well, in order to control the precise execution of the smallest details 

 of the operation ; when its rules are neglected a third bath may 

 become necessary. The cresol solution is distinguished from all 

 others by its absolute harmlessness ; its preparation is simple, and 

 its price not high ; added to these important advantages, the wool 

 is neither colored nor changed, contrary to what is observed with 

 tobacco, arsenic, etc. 



No matter which bath is used, the procedure is the same in all 

 cases. The animals must only be subjected to the treatment some 

 time after shearing : eight to ten days for an arsenical bath, three 

 or four days for all others. The solution should be brought to a 

 temperature of about 30° R. (37.5° C); it ought to be abundant 

 enough in order to allow for the use of two to three litres of liquid 

 per sheep. The bathing utensil should be placed near the sheep- 

 fold, in a cool and shady place ; it is of advantage to fix it in the 

 ground at a sufficient depth. The tub used for the brushing should 

 be placed in close proximity. All the animals should be treated 

 successively, beginning with those which seem healthy or which 

 are slightly affected. The whole body, with the exception of the 

 eyes, mouth, and nose, should be dipped into the anti-psoric liquid 

 for about three minutes. In order to immerse the animal, one man 

 must take him by the four legs and another by the head ; the latter 

 must take care to apply both thumbs upon the eyes, in order to 

 protect them ; the patient is then thrown on its back and plunged 

 in this position. Immediately after the bath it is carried to the 

 brushing tub, where two other men rub it well, particularly upon 

 the dorsal and lumbar regions ; it is then plunged again into the 

 anti-psoric solution for a few moments, and is then set free in a 

 clean stable or in a pasture which is exposed to the sun. It 



