724 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



away from the body, and then the powder is dusted thoroughly through 

 the feathers, especially under the tail and wings and about the neck 

 and head. By rubbing the feathers slightly with the hand the powder 

 will penetrate and form a coating over the skin, which is destructive to 

 both lice and mites. 



It is possible and practicable to keep a flock of poultry absolutely 

 free from lice and mites, and this should be the aim of everyone who is 

 endeavoring to estabish a successful poultry industry. 



DISINFECTANTS AND THEIR APPLICATION. 



Good disinfectants destroy the germs of contagious diseases, the ex- 

 ternal parasites such as lice and ]nites, and the embryos of the instestinal 

 worms. They should be thoroughly applied to the interior of the houses, 

 worked into all the cracks and crevices, spread over the ceiling and the 

 floor, the roosts, dropping boards, and nest boxes. At the same time, the 

 feeding and drinking troughs should be disinfected by pouring boiling 

 water into them and afterwards drying them in the sun. The disin- 

 fectants are most easily applied to the walls and ceilings with a spray 

 pump or brush. As it is difficult to keep them from coming into contact 

 with the face and hands the more harmless of these mixtures should 

 generally be used. Ordinarily limewash made from freshly slaked lime 

 is excellent and its properties are well known to all. In the case of an 

 actual outbreak of virulent disease, it is well to add to the limewash 

 6 ounces of crude carbolic acid to each gallon, to increase its activity 

 as a disinfectant. 



The kerosene emulsion which is frequently used to destroy lice and 

 mites may readily be converted into a disinfectant. To make the emulsion 

 shave i/o pound of hard laundry soap into 1/2 gallon of soft water and 

 boil the mixture until all of the soap is dissolved, then remove it to a 

 safe distance from the fire and stir into it, at once, while still hot, 2 

 gallons of kerosene oil. This makes a thick, creamy emulsion, or stock 

 mixture. When it is to be used for killing lice in the houses 1 part of 

 this emulsion is mixed with 10 parts of water. When it is to be used as 

 a disinfectant add 1 quart of emulsion to 10 quarts of water and stir 

 well; then add 1 pint crude carbolic acid or crude cresol and again stir 

 until all is well mixed. 



One of the best disinfectants is the compound solution of cresol, which 

 may be purchased ready for use. It contains 50 per cent of cresol, and 

 1 pint of it added to 10 quarts of water makes a solution of the proper 

 strength to apply to the houses or to spray over the ground. A 5 per 

 cent solution of carbolic acid (1 pint carbolic acid to 10 quarts of water) 

 is about equally efficacious. The (hoice between the two is a matter of 

 convenience. 



CHOLEKA AND CHOLERA-LIKE DISEASES. 



There are several diseases which have been investigated and de- 

 scribed as different because the bacteria which cause them differ in 

 some of their characteristics. The symptoms and the changes which 

 are seen after death are so nearly identical that it is only by study- 

 ing the bacteria that any one of these diseases can be distinguished 



