INFECTED SHEEP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11918, 17 December 1900, Page 8

INFECTED SHEEP.

TO THE EDITOH. Sib,—lt is to be hoped stock inspectors will profit by your article on the above subjecL. With your permission, I would like to indicate what appears to mo the most desired lino of action. To begin with, then, it is quite obvious that the work of cleaning any area of lice-infected sheep must be of a systematic character. The ordinary nonpoisonous carbolic dip is an excellent one for dealing with sheep not infected with lice; such, at least, is the experience of the writer. For lice-infected sheep a poisonous dip is, I think, a necessity.

The duty uf the agents and inspectors if, then, to see that every sheup-owuer dips as n.-any of his sheep as can possibly be mustered at the time set apart for that work. The inspector should not attempt to coerce anyone into dipping with a poisonous—i.e., a more expensive—dip than such sheep-owner may h.3 in the habit of using. If lie did so, such owner would immediately complain that his liberty of action was threatened, and so forth. Let each use what dip he may please. But should infected sheep be found .after dipping in any man's flock, then such owner should \k compelled to muster and reclip his flock. in enforcing this the inspector is well within his ground. It is obviously futile to catch a few infected sheep and dip them. It is not by drastic action levelled at a few the ci.imtry will be cleansed, but rather by strict adherence to a general rule to he laid down for the guidance of inspectors and agents by the head of the Stock department. The instruction might run like this: See everyone dips thoroughly, not merely sufficiently to evade the act, and let them understand that redippiug will be enforced as Jong as may be necessary. The proper enforcement of such instructions moans big work for officers in any district infected as the one you describe. Above and beyond all, it should never be left to any private person to draw stock inspectors' attention to the state of a sheep-owner's flock.

Tv your article on this subject you say, if

I remember aright: " One or the other of the arsenical dips must be used," or some words of similar import. Now, I think this statement is hardly fair to makers of poisonous dips who do not specially claim to a ba*is of arsenic as the active principle of destruction. I know of three poisonous, and I. believe efficacious, dips where no such pretension is made. I think owners should find out by reason of failure what dips to avoid or to use. It should be the duty of the stock inspector to free the district under his charge from the stigma of infection. To do this, oveiy flock, from the smallest to the larjjesl, requires careful attention: unless the work bo carried out 'in an absolutely systematic manner it is better left unbegun.

I am pretty confident there is more than one district in Otago which might claim the dismal distinction of having- called forth your remarks. It h not unseemly haste in onforcing dipping now which will right this matter, but rather such supervision as will assure of dipping being rightly carried out in its duo season..—l am, etc.,

SIIEEP-FARMEII.

Duncdin, December 13.

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