Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-05-16
LIV Z STOCK.

AL otSC1S HI AOIlCdI A@ w ~ ~
scab. It is the effect of an itch insect which
it is necessary to destroy before the sheep
can become sound and profitable. In our
dry climate it seems more troublesome to
, get rid of than probably any other. The
want of information and the proper care
and treatment has caused some dissatistac-
ton and in a few instances with new begin
rers the loss of a third of the wool clip.
Our wool-growers are all in the habit of
dipping once Or twice during the season,
but in many cases it has been work thrown
away. Simply dipping does not appear to
be sufficient. A thorough dipping will de-
stroy the insect reached, but will not kill
the eggs deposited under the skin. 1t has
been ascertained that the eggs hatch in
from nine to ten days. 1t is therefore nee
essary hat a second dipping be given in
ten days after the first. But few cases of
permanent cure to an entire flock have been
effected where after dipping the sheep
were turned upon the same range. The IN
sect seems to cling to the wool left hanging
on the brush and fences, where it comes in
contact with the sheep after dipping and
again impregnates it with scab. In time it
will become ~liteless. and harmless on the
range, but just how long that time is has
not vet been discovered. a trouble with
some of our Montana wool-growers has
been their carelessness or lack of thorough
ness in dipping. Tue seab where bad is
quite hard, and should be well rubbed and
saturated with the hot liquid. 1t is harder
to rid the lambs than the old sheep. The
insect gets around their nose, eyes and ears,
where it is but little molested by dipping,
as the head cannot be kept under long
enough for the scab to become softened.
The application of coal oil around the nose
of lambs has been found very effective.
We give below the recipe recommended
In the "Shephe rd's Manual' for curing
scab. 1t is, we believe, generally adopted
by the Montana shepherds. The statement,
however, that coarse, cheap leaf and stems
Is equally as good as other tobacco, will
hardly do. We hold that it is cheaper to
Ause good tobacco than trash and stems, and
we advise our sheep-raisers to buy good,
strong leaf tobacco for dipping. The
"ManuaI" says:
The treatment is by dipping In a liquid
which peletrates and softens the scab SO
that it can be removed, and which poisons
the insect. There are many preparations
used for this purpose, some Of which are
Objectionable on account of their poisonous
properties. such as mercurial or arsenical
compounds. and which are no more effec-
tive than the following perfectly safe one.
This consists of tobacco and sulphur in the
proportions Of four ounces of the first. and
one OF the second, to the gallon Of water.
The water is brought to- boiling heat, and
the tobacco, either coarse cheap leaf Or
stems, which are equally good, is stepped
(but not boiled), in it until the strength is
exhausted. The sulphur is then stirred in
the liquid. When it has become reduced in
temperature to 10 degrees, it is ready ,tor
use. The sheep are entirely immersed in
the liquid so that the wool is completely
saturated. Hard .crusts of scab broken up
aud removed with care, and the raw sur
faces are washed with the decoction. The
dipped animals should be kept in a yard un-
til the wool no longer drips, lest the pas
sure should be fouled, ana the sheep sicken-
ed by the tobacco Juice. With care the most
badly infected locality may be completely
freed from this pest, and it will never APP
pear il the sheep are dipped twice each year
as a preventive. The gain in the growth OF
wool and in its improved quality will more
than repay the cost of the operation.
-m-c-u-