§ Mr. H. JONESasked the Minister of Agriculture why farmers are not permitted to use a dip containing arsenic for the second dipping of sheep in double-dipping area?
§ Mr. GUINNESSThe life history of the sheep scab parasite is such that, to cure sheep affected with the disease, it is necessary to dip the sheep twice within 14 days. The Ministry approves dips which may be used under the Orders which require the double dipping of sheep. These approved dips mainly fall into two classes, those containing arsenic and known as "poisonous" dips, and those which contain carbolic acid or one of its derivatives, known as "non-poisonous" dips. Formerly the choice of either a poisonous or a non-poisonous dip rested with the farmer. Experience, however, has shown that unless the greatest care is exercised in dipping sheep twice within 14 days in arsenical dips, a certain number die of arsenical poisoning. The Ministry has frequently warned sheep farmers of this danger. Consequently, when 1,088 sheep died in 1925 in Devon and North Wales, after being twice dipped in arsenical dips, the Ministry felt that, unless these accidents were prevented, public opinion would not support the maintenance of the Double Dipping Orders.
Frequent warnings of dipping twice in arsenical dips had failed to prevent dipping accidents, and as it was after the second dipping that the sheep were poisoned, the Ministry, by Order, prohibited the use of arsenical dips for the second dipping. The Order was issued in 1926, and would appear to have been effective, for dipping accidents have been 854W reduced from 1,088 out of 2,000,000 sheep dipped under the Double Dipping Orders in 1925, to 14 out of 3,000,000 sheep double-dipped in 1927.