SCAB CURATIVES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 244, 3 February 1875, Page 2

SCAB CURATIVES.

The following letter appears in the A ustralasian: — “ Sir, —Kindly inform me through your columns what is now considered the best ‘ cure’ for and preventive of scab in sheep —lime and sulphur, or tobacco and sulphur. Lime and sulphur I believe to be a ‘ cure,’ though I am doubtful about its being a ‘ preventive’ after any lapse of time. Bruce says ‘ that the sulphur is not meant, as some suppose, to be dissolved. That would spoil its effect as a lasting disinfectant.’ Please give quantities of respective mixtures —lime and sulphur, tobacco and sulphur. Also name best and most recent works on the subject of scab. Does the. lime and sulphur or tobacco and sulphur injure the human eye, skin, or hair, or the contrary ? By answering the above you will oblige “A Constant Reader and Many Others. “Wellington, N.Z., Nov. 7.

[Opinion is divided with regard to the effect upon the wool of the lime usedin the lime and sulphur preparation, but there is no question about the efficacy of lime and sulphur, prepared as recommended by Dr. Rowe who recommends sulphuret of lime made as follows ; —“ 2 oz. of quick lime (slacked wilt not do), 4 oz. of flowers of sulphur, and 1 gal. of water, Boil together for 10 minutes, when the sulphur will be dissolved, and form a transparent orange-coloured fluid. There may be a little deposit, but this will be only the dross of the sulphur and carbonate of lime (insoluble). Scabby sheep kept for a minute in this solution ata temperature of 100 deg. Fahr., not less, and the dipping repeated within ten days, cannot fail to be cured of the disease. It does not damage the wool at all, and discolours it much loss than any application I have tried.” Dr. Rowe adds the following note: —“The preparation should be used as soon as made. The carbonic acid in the atmosphere, and even in the water, deposits carbonate of lime. I boil about 601bs. of sulphur, and BOlbs of lime, in about 50 gallons of water, and add to my bath this solution iu the proportions I have mentioned ; in fact I keep making the solution whilst I am using it which is the safest plan.” If tobacco and sulphur be preferred use from four to five ounces of good sound tobacco leaf, and three or four ounces of sulphur to a gallon of water. Infuse the leaf in boiling water, aud cover closely down, but do not boil it. Sheep that are very badly affected should be penned by themselves fora day,aud be “spotted,” i. e., the hard patches of scab should be dressed with tobaeco water of double the above strength and should not be dipped until the following day. If the sheep have been recently shorn, not less than five ounces of tobacco should be used, and the sheep should be kept rather longer in the dip, say from a minute and a half to two minutes altogether, there being no wool on the pelt to retain the dressing after the sheep have left the dip. Some of our pastoral readers will perhaps favour our correspondent with replies.—Ed.]