Farmer.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2038, 4 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Farmer.

Sheep Tois»:icd l»y an Arsenical

I’owiler Dip.

T,. .o. from S .nth Africa living tul- .. : .n.c'.ior of tl.i.io nh.lies do poi-nii-in ■ < of siu.p that iiave happened from i; no to time. lilling the minds of the f..v.i•. rs wait consternation in the localiOn wlioi ■ they occur. This time it is a fanner in the lllocmfonteiii district, whose Stock his been so ruthlessly destroyed, and to ii.e extent of nearly IIHHI sheep ! The particulars of the ease must be of intiTe.it to all owners of sheep. The dip u-ed was mu of the host known of the > I is> distinguished as powder dips (arsenical), and has long had the reputation of being prepared with great care. We bela ve the farmer used it with some degree ■ eontidenev, in fr.ee of the printed statemi lit with each package to the effect that this iNiwder dip might bo used with peric.- safety if the directions were followed. I .lomiuatcly. the results have contrail;:. i this. The directions were followed with ordinary care, yet nearly KVIH of the sheep dipped Were poisoned. How did this occur ‘ It appears the sheep were suffering from scabs, ami twice dipping at an interval of a fortnight was considered desirable. A large Tripping tank was used that contained some solution of the same held ov- r from a previous dipping. Tilts u.re added to m usual m inner, and th. To. kv as dipped. Owing to the hot

v.v or "i "•••no "'her I I'ise. tins dipping ' - i i d some r. iii-o. and inflammation ... C ■p. it i.t skin "f the animals), hut ; iuJi aTeiiiii'ii u..s tmt paid to it. The .-In-, p were Tipped a second time as rccemm. tided :ii the directions accompanying Lie Tup. with the result that afterwards iieai iv one t'.'.iis ;nd of thorn died, and in meat ag.mv. e nised. as ii.is since been proved, by ii.e absorption of arsenic through the skin. The ease appears to he . somewhat i.i flog, us to that which occurred a» !'• r.vi.-k uiTweed some years jilii", v. hen '".i ~heop were poisoned. Tlie i.im i,; r’a.-e disasters (for shocking they must he i-.died when they might he Bo oa.-iilv .uoi ivl, and with so much ad-vaut.-go ;s o'-.v;. .a,; viz., that even the i'.'.st pr, p ired poisonous dips are too ■ nege. mi,' ole nr f..r Use njmhi animals, '.■" ii. Tt. oais since there was M'liie.n- ;\..in to use poisons of various, hmii f. . ho p dialing, for at that time 1.0 i, ,T' v , gen nr. yet st the same time ' ife, real, dy had he. a discovered ; hut i ■'e have progressed since then, and one of ! rim 1 ns science has contributed to agri- ; . iihin. j., tint "f thoroughly efficient, yet .do ’iu'.dv means of exterminating 1 e;v hj of the numerous Insect pests that in- . re-t sheep and e.ttlle. lie they in the shape of ticks, lice. ll’eS, or the resulting cl is- j e.i- ~f scab, mange, or itch, and thus dc- J livering farmers n..ni tlie anxiety and loss I that have always been inseparable from ! the use of poisonous mixtures. !