Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 621, 20 October 1858, Page 5

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —The meeting of sheepowners for the purpose of considering whether any farther legislation may be required for preventing the spread of the scab, shows how important it is that some more effective remedy for this pest should be discovered. In fact any really successful step in this direction would save a great deal of trouble; because then, any new law would be unnecessary.

As I believe the itch in the human subject and the scab in sheep are generally acknowledged to be the same disease, a Surgeon may be allowed to offer a few words on this point. Now the scab is caused by an insect, and to this insect sulphur is deadly poison. . Wherein then lies the difficulty ? Why is it that we can so easily cure the itch while the shepherd has so much trouble with the scab? The difference in the two cases obviously consists in our being able to bring the sulphur so to bear on the insects that it is scarcely possible they can escape its direct application/whereas in the sheep the wool renders any ordinary application of sulphur impracticable. It would thus appear that the difficulty in question is somewhat like that of putting salt on a bird's tail. There is no doubt about what will kill these insects ; but the question is how to apply it to thum. Under these circumstances, instead of having recourse to a variety of dangerous poisons, would it not be going mom

straight to the point, to have the sulphur so > dissolved that we may be sure it shall penetrate through every hair, even were the wool thicker, than it is. Now there really is no difficulty in accomplishing this, as in the sulphurct of potash we have all that can be desired. If I can depend at all on my own experience, 1 should say that sulphur thus applied in solution is far more speedy and effective than when used in the form of ointment, for wherea3 in most cases we generally have to use the latter more than once, I do not remember that it was ever necessary to use the latter a second time. The instances moreover in which the solution was i used were very trying ones, because I have never i used it except in that worst form of itch, the pustular scabies. The patients were put in a warm bath in which the sulphuret of potash wa3 dissolved in the proportion of half an ounce to the gallon of water. i The only other question is as to the expense. } I am not able to say what this may he ; but as ' both sulphur and potash are plentiful I should think it might be had for two or three shillings \ a pound ; probably less. If so the cost of dipping sheep, as far as this material is concerned, would perhaps amount to about a penny a head. j I know of no other preparation which offers the same advantages as this said sulphuret of potash. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, A SURGEON. October sth, 1858. To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —Will you allow me to ask Mr. Ward, through the medium of your paper, how he got bis information respecting the Government estimate of the £300,000 for the tunnel; and what it includes? because I have been to the office of Public Works on the subject, and the j Provincial Engineer told me he had made no j detailed estimate, and without boring he could not do so. Is there another office of public works, besides | that in charge of the Provincial Engineer ? If i so, I think the public should be informed of its whereabouts. Yours, &c, FAIR PLAY.