This is just about all I can think of. When the shearers accidentally nicked the sheep's skin, they might have applied some wood-charcoal to disinfect the wound.

Just an idea.


HTH



Sheila



This character is commercially applied in the use cf wood-charcoal as a disinfectant.

http://89.1911encyclopedia.org/C/CH/CHARADE.htm

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Note added at 9 hrs 52 mins (2005-10-16 08:32:10 GMT)
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Therapeutic chew device for cleaning teeth and breath of dogs ...
Charcoal has long been recognized for its cleansing and healing properties.
A natural deodorant and disinfectant, activated charcoal is one of the finest ...
www.freepatentsonline.com/6050224.html - 26k - Còpia en memòria - Pàgines semblants

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Note added at 9 hrs 54 mins (2005-10-16 08:34:18 GMT)
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Activated Charcoal has been used effectively in the healing arts for centuries. Doctors still use it today as a healing agent, an antidote for poisons, and an effective treatment for indigestion and gas. Modern Industry also relies on Charcoal to deodorize, decolorize and purity solutions. Charcoal can do these varied tasks because of its amazing ability to attract other substances to its surface and hold them there. This is called adsorption. Charcoal can adsorb thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals, thus making them ineffective or harmless.


http://healingtools.tripod.com/thn5.html