The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-07-31
DIPPING SHEEP FOR scAB.
Prof. Thomas Shaw Gives Some Sug-
gestions for the Treatment
of Sheep.

ne dipping OF Sneep Is prdcIlced TO
free them from ticks and also from
the presence of the scab mite. The
proprietary dips are used for the pur-
pose as a rule, although the bureau
of animal industry still favors the use
of the lime and sulphur dip, although
much evidence has been brought for
ward to show that it Injuries the wool
If applied just after shearing the
sheep this result would not follow.
Prominent among the proprietary dips
are chloronaptholeum, zenoleum and
certain preparations with tobacco as
the principal element in their potency.
The following is the fomula for
making the lime and sulphur dip:
Take eight to eleven pounds of un-
slaked lime and add enough water to
Stake the lime, sift into this three
times as many pounds of flower OF sui
phur as there were pounds of lime at
the outset. Boil the mixture from two
to three hours, adding water when
necessary. Pour the mixture into
tub, vat or barrel that it may be
drawn off through a spigot without
sediment. When using this dip, it is
greatly important to keep the sedi-
ment out of the mixture.
The common form of the infection
known as sheep scab causes greater
loss to the sheep industry in the Unit
ed States than any of the external
parasites which prey upon them. 1t is
produced by minute insects, many of
which are too small to be seen with
"a al nf mi
however, If a tuft of wool is pulled
out near the edge of the infected part,
little moving objects may be noticed
by the naked eye near the base of the
wool fibers, or among the scales adj
herring to them. They irritate the
skin by biting, this causing an inflam-
nation which produces an itching and
gives the sheep no rest. The inflam-
nation is accompanied by scab forma-
ton, under which the mites live
The rubbing of the sheep carries the
scab to new centers, and thus the
work of torment is frequently carried
on simultaneously on different parts
of the body. The wool soon becomes
taggy and finally drops off in various
places.
The remedy, as intimated, is dip
ping. The sheep should be dipped
twice with an interval of eight to ten
days between the clippings. The Sec
ond dipping is given to destroy any
mites that may have Matched out sub
sequent to the first dipping. AS soon
as dipped the sheep should be removed
from their old surroundings and pas
ture grounds for a period of at least
20 days. The eggs hatch in two or
three days after they have been laid
When the flocks are small, says the
Orange Judd Farmer, the dipping may
be done in a water-tight box made for
the purpose, into which the sheep are
lifted They may also be dipped in
galvanized watts made for the purpose
When large lots are to be dipped, how
ever tanks made for the purpose are
necessary, through which the sheep
are made to swim, and from which
they are made to emerge at the farther
end. The construction of these cannot
be given to this paper. Sheep bought
at the stockyards may usually be dip
ped there, but it ought to be remem-
bered that for scab one dipping is not
enough. The preparation of the pro-
prietary dips is outlined in the direc-
tons that accompany them.