Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1893-06-13
CHEAP SHEEP DIP.
Nothing like the Kerosene Emulsion For
sheep, Cattle and Hogs.

IeCtudi Ttuituy lOT tue utStruCllon ol
lice that infest cattle and hogs. During
the past summer l was enabled 10 test
kerosene emulsion as sheep dip. Ii Ia,
been customary each year just after
shearing To treat the sheep upon IN,
farm where experimental with one OF
the standard sheep dips sold upon III,
market, so the sheep We're very free from
ticks. But as there can I've no doubt a,
to the power of the emulsion TO kill IN,
ticks it was thought TO he well wort
while 10 determine whether or not il
could be safely applied TO sheep as wei
Is to cattle and hogs for the destruction
II parasites.
Forty large full blooded Shropshii,
sheep and IL early lambs were treated
The applications were made June %, al
which time the wool upon the sheep wa,
a half inch and the wool upon the lamb
fully IL inches in length. These condi.
tons made the test severe one, rs tn,
chances Of removing the fleece or other.
wise injuring the sheep were far greater
than If the treatment had been made al
shearlng time. The emulsion was alsc
made strong, & per cent Of the Who'll,
being kerosene. This Is probably rvic,
as strong as is necessary to kill ticks on
sheep
During the treatment man stood in
the dipping vat with the emulsion nearly
waist deep TO begin with, and he thor
oughly drenched every sheep put into il.
On account Of the men being ready e
dip the sheep before the emulsion wac
prepared, the latter was made rather toe
hurriedly, and it was noticed that a thin
layer of free oil rose 10 the top of the
emulsion before the fir,t sheep was put
in. which with q good emulsion would
not have occurred. The old sheep were
dipped first and the lambs afterward
The result was that three or four of the
first sheep put in lost patches Of wool
from their backs and sides, amounting
in ALL as near as lcould estimate. 10 one
half of the wool Of one sheep. Aside
from this no harm was Gone. The lambs
with fieeces heavy enough 10 be sheared
lost no wool whatever.
The man who stood in the vat To dip
the sheep experienced no unpleasant ne
suits from having stood IN the emulsion
for an hour. The actual amount Of the
dip used IN treating these jS sheep and
lambs was about ~ gallons. the cost of
which was Sill. This would b. an av-
erage of little is>s than cents for each
sheep. Had the sheep been treated at
shearing time. much less material would
have been used. n . per cent emulsion
would undoubtedly be strong enough 10
DESTROY ticks or other parasites upon
sheep. such an emulsion, with Kerosene
at - cents gallon and soap at 10 cent.
pound, woold cost 81, cents for 100
gallons. This would make the cost O.
the emulsion. when used as above. u
cents a sheep.
This emulsion i effective in destroy
ing all Of the insects for which dipping
is reSorted 10. The scab parasite. ticks
lice End mCg-0ts all :uccumb to the de
stroying power Of the kerosene. The dip
il not n permanent one in the sense that
IL remains in the wool after dipping and
prevents the lodgment of insects for all
time To come "a Is claimed for some Of
the commercial dips, but this is not nee
essary where dipping is done every year,
as il is in all well regulated flocks.
The precautions 10 be observed IN us
ing the emulsion dip are 10 not make IL
too strong and To see that it is perfectly
emulsiiied. If too much kerosene is
used. IT is likely 10 take of the wool.
and the result will be- the same if the
emulsion Is imperfect. An emulsion
made az the rate of gallons OF kero-
sene, half "A pound If soap and a gallon
of water, churned together and added TO
30 or 40 gallons of water after churning,
will be strong enough 10 accomplish all
that is desired. - Professor G. L. Gillette.