1916] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 183 



Some lice and mites of the hen, G. H. Lamson, Jr., and J. A. Manter 

 [Connecticut Storrs Sta. Bui. 86 {1916), pp. 169-196, figs. 15).— A general ac- 

 count is siven of the more important lice and mites which commonly attack 

 the domestic fowl, their life history, and remedial measures, together with 

 brief reference to some experimental work with remedies. 



The pests thus considered are tlie large body louse {Mcnopon hiscriatum), 

 the small body louse (J/. palUduin), the head louse (Lipcurus hetcruijraphus), 

 poultry mite or roost mite {Dcnnanyssus gaUinw), and scabies or scaly leg 

 mite {Cncmklocoptcs mutans). 



The large body louse is one of the species most commonly found upon poul- 

 try. Its eggs, which are attached securely to the feathers near the body of the 

 host, were found on chickens to hatch in from five to seven days, the young 

 reaching maturity and laying eggs in somewhat less tlian 17 days, which 

 would indicate a life cycle of about three weeks. On infested chickens it is 

 more abundant under the wings, but the area most commonly infested on older 

 birds is around the vent, although specimens will be found on tlie head and scat- 

 tered about the body. As many as 3,600 individuals were counted from one 

 chicken, and this is thought to have included not more than one-half of those 

 present. The species readily travels from one bird to another and often to other 

 barnyard fowls, having been found by the authors upon turkeys. 



The small body louse is reported by most authors to be the commonest louse 

 infesting the hen in the United States. Its general habits and life history 

 are similar to those of the large body louse, but it is usually more abundant 

 around the vent. It has been reported to infest horses which have been stabled 

 near poultry. 



The head louse is most prominent on the feathers of the head but is often 

 foimd on the neck and occasionally on the feathers of the wings. It is much 

 less active than the body lice above mentioned. Its eggs, which are glued to 

 the feathers of the head and neck, hatch on chickens in from four to five days 

 and reach maturity and oviposit in 10 days, the life cycle thus occupying a 

 period of about 15 days. Several less important lice mentioned are L. varia- 

 bilis, usually found upon the feathers of the wing, Goniocotcs abdominalis, and 

 G. hologaster upon the feathers on the underside of the hen. 



The most effective control measure tested by the authors for body lice consists 

 in the application of a dilution of mercurial ointment or blue ointment. One 

 hundred and four chickens were treated in a laboratory with this ointment at 

 various strengths, the applications being made to different regions of the body. 

 The normal strength of blue ointment was found to be very effective and even 

 a dilution of this proved satisfactory, but the effectiveness decreased with a 

 decrease in the amount of mercury present. On chickens the most vulnerable 

 point of attack proved to be on the body under the wings, while an application 

 around the vent was also effective. The method recommended consists in 

 parting the feathers and applying an amount of ointment about the size of a 

 pea to the flesh just below the vent. It is pointed out that the use of sulphur 

 and lard, one of the commonest mixtures prescribed for lice on the heads of 

 chickens, is dangerous. 



The poultry mite attacks the fowl only at night, when it crawls ujwni the 

 roost from its hiding place between the boards supporting the roosts and sides 

 of the poultry house. The eggs are laid from early spring until late fall, 

 usually about four eggs being laid in a period of two or three days and 

 repeated at intervals, and hatch in from two to six days. The period required 

 for completing their life cycle depends upon the time required in gaining access 

 to the fowl. 



