S July, 1908.] Diseases of ilic Skin. 447 



The special lice of different domestic animals are as follow :^Horse, 

 Hcematopiniis cqiii ; Cattle, H. eurystemus and teimirosiris ; Swine, //. 

 suis; Dog, H. pilifer. 



Generally lice only develop on p(X)rly fed, weak and debilitated 

 animals, and their presence is almost always indicative of want of atten- 

 tion to the skin and dirty surroundings ; although ox lice are often found 

 on well-conditioned subjects. The eggs (nits) are not deposited on the 

 skin but are affixed to the hair of the affected animal. They produce 

 itchiness and shedding of the coat or hair in patches. Sometimes the 

 surface layer of the skin peels off over affected areas and the skin may 

 become thickened, corrugated, and covered with much scurf. The irrita- 

 bilitv produced has its effect on the condition of the animal which becomes 

 dull and thriftless. 



. Treatment. — Many washes having kerosene, creosote, carbolic acid, 

 phenyle, tobacco or the like insecticides as their active principle may be 

 used with success ; but the most efficacious dressing that the author has 

 used for all classes of animals is a Stavesacre sham{x>o made according to 

 the following prescription: — 



.Stavesacre seeds ■■- ■■• •.• l^ \h. 



.Soft soap ... ... ... ... I lb. 



\V Iter ... ... ■•• ■.■ 4 quarts 



Add the seeds and soap to the water and boil slowly down to two quarts, 

 stirring continuously until the soap is dissolved. 



This decoction is to be applied with water as a shampoo until a good 

 lather is produced which may be allowed to dry on and be washed oft 

 with water after a few hours. A quarter-pint of ke;rosene added to the 

 decoction increases its efficacy. 



To destroy the. nits vinegar may be added in the proportion of two 

 ounces to the quart of decoction. 



Fowl Lice or] /\qimals. 



'J'he insects cnmmonlv known as fowl lice are nut reallv lice but acari 

 (mites) known .scientifically as Detmanyssus avium. They are found on 

 all domestic fowls but particularly chickens, pigeons and house birds. 

 They are nocturnal in their attack, resorting during the day to cracks and 

 crevices in the perches and floors and walls of the fowlhouses, and only 

 spreading on to the poultry ai night time. They do not seem to preju- 

 dicially affect the birds unless they are present in large numbers, when 

 voung birds loose fle.sh and may die from exhaustion. 



These insects are of chief concern to the stock-owner because they over- 

 run hor.ses, cattle and other animals that are stabled near fowl pens or 

 within their reach. In horses particularly, and I0 a less extent in other 

 animals, they occasion great uneasiness and irritability, and sometimes 

 give rise to the formation of scabs s'.mulating mange. A case is recorded 

 in which a number of cows were treated for fowl lice unsuccessfully for 

 several vears until the trouble disappeared spontaneously after the destruc- 

 tion of several swallows' nests that were in the cowshed. 



Treatment is the same as that recommended atove for ordinary 

 lousiness. 



Ticl^s. 



Tick-; are insects resembling acari (mites) in form but they are larger, 

 the females wdien sexually mature attaining to the size of a split pea or 

 castor oil seed and reseml')ling the latter very much in appearance. They 

 seldom attack stabled or housed animals but only those at pasture as their 

 natural habitat during part of their life cvcle is in shady situations among 

 crass and scrub. 



