CONTROL OF TICKS 445 



that it is almost impossible to halter or bridle an infested animal. In 

 man there are seldom more than one or two ticks present, yet the pain is 

 described as excruciating at times, and a sensation of tickling, ringing, 

 and fulness at others. The ticks are usually so far in the ear that they 

 can not be discerned readily from the outside and hence frequently they 

 are overlooked for weeks. 



In man the removal of the ticks with forceps will usually give complete 

 and permanent relief. In horses and cattle mechanical removal with a 

 rather blunt instrument may be practiced, but in general it is better to 

 depend upon the application of some material to destroy the ticks. 

 Unfortunately the dipping of live stock in the ordinary tickicides will not 

 reach or destroy this species, hence we must depend upon individual treat- 

 ment. The Bureau of Animal Industry (Farmers' Bulletin 980) has 

 found that a mixture of pine tar and cottonseed oil (2 to 1) will destroy 

 all ticks if properly worked into the ear. It may be applied with a long- 

 spouted oil can or hard rubber syringe, the base of the ear being manip- 

 ulated as the material is injected. About one-half an ounce is required 

 for each ear. It also has the advantage of protecting the animals against 

 reinfestation for about a month. 



The Chicken Tick. — Altliough this is an important poultry pest, the 

 comparative freedom of man from its attack will not justify a lengthy 

 discussion here. While spirochaetosis of fowls, known to be carried by 

 this species, appears not to be present in the United States, it is a source 

 of considerable loss in many other parts of the world, in the tropics and 

 subtropics. In this country the main loss is due to the weakening of 

 the fowls by the loss of blood and irritation. This often is sufficient to 

 completely stop ^gg production, reduce the fowls in flesh, and sometimes 

 cause death. 



Owing to the resistance of this species to the action of chemicals, and 

 on account of the habits of the species, it has been found best not to 

 attempt to destroy the larvae while attached to the host but to proceed 

 against the infested roosting or nesting places of the fowls. In one 

 instance only is it necessary to give consideration to tlie individuals, and 

 this is in protecting an uninfested yard or premises from introduction of 

 the tick in the seed tick stage on poultry. Fowls brought in should be 

 kept in quarantine in a crate or small yard for about ten days. During 

 this time all of the seed ticks upon them will have become engorged and 

 liiddcn in the roosting places and may there be destroyed by fire or some 

 material as recommended for treating roosts. 



It usually pays to destroy heavily infested houses which are of little 

 value. In other cases, the houses should be thoroughly cleaned and 

 sprayed with the wood preservative known as carbolineum, or with crude 



