156 HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



for a few hours. If infested, the dog kennel should be 

 thoroughly washed inside and out with a 5 per cent solu- 

 tion of creolin. To keep it clean and free from eggs and 

 larva? of fleas it should be washed with strong soapsuds 

 occasionally and once or twice a year carefully white- 

 washed. 



To free a dog from fleas the animal should be bathed in 

 a 3 per cent solution of creolin made by adding 4 teaspoon- 

 fuls to a quart of water or 4 tablespoonfuls to a gallon of 

 water. For cats, a 2 per cent solution is strong enough, 

 for their skin is a little more sensitive than that of a dog. 

 The animal may be treated by putting the solution on 

 with a brush or rag or by making enough of it for the sub- 

 mergence of the patient. After the application, no more 

 attention is needed nor does the material need to be washed 

 out of the hair. It softens the fur, destroys other vermin 

 as well as fleas, heals scratches or sores in the skin, and 

 will deodorize the animal and destroy obnoxious smells. 



Pyrethrum, or buhach, if it can be obtained fresh, will 

 kill or stupefy the fleas if it is thoroughly dusted among 

 the hairs of the animal. Usually, the insects will fall from 

 the animal, and they may then be swept up and burned 

 if not already dead. 



To clear a house of fleas when once infested is often 

 a very strenuous task. In the first place, the source of 

 infestation, if it be a cat or dog, must be removed or freed 

 from the pests. In addition to this, the removal of carpets 

 and a change to rugs are recommended. The larvae 

 of fleas cannot develop in rooms in which all parts of the 

 'floors are swept from time to time. Matting and carpets 

 afford fine protection to the larva? of fleas and offer 

 splendid hiding places with plenty of dust containing 



