44^ Journal of Agriculture. [8 July, 1908". 



Each animal has its special variety of tick. That of the Horse is the 

 Ixodes Americanus found in certain parts of America and of recent years 

 particularly prevalent in South Africa but as yet not introduced into Aus- 

 tralia. The cattle tick {Ixodes bovis) is of special importance on account 

 oi the part it plays in the causation of Tick fever oir Redwater of cattle, 

 and it will be fully considered when that disease is dealt with. The Do^ 

 tick {Ixodes ricinus) also attacks cattle and sheep. It is responsible for 

 many fatalities amongst shepherds' dogs in the bush, a fatal paralysis 

 quickly supervening on the bite of the insect. In such cases the most 

 effective line of treatment is the giving of stimulants to keep the animal 

 going until the effect of the poison, which the insect apparently injects, 

 passes off. Injections under the skin of five-drop doses of liquor stry- 

 chnia every half hour is recommended. The offending tick or ticks should 

 also be searched for and cut out, or made to loosen hold by inverting a 

 bottle of turpentine or ammonia over each. If pulled out the proboscis 

 is usually broken off and left in, in which case the injection of poison 

 appears to continue for some time. 



Closely allied to the true ticks are the so-called horse, sheep and fowl 

 ticks. In the horse the tick-like insects {Hippobosca equina) locate them- 

 selves at the base of the tail, along the belly and round the anus, and cause 

 considerable irritation by biting. The sheep tick {Malopliagus orinus) is 

 well known. They are bloodsuckers and produce considerable irritation 

 of the skin, causing the sheep to rub and bite their fleeces so damaging 

 the wool. They are much more prevalent during moist seasons than dry 

 ones. The fowl tick {Argas Americanus) was introduced into Australia 

 some years back and it has spread so rapidly that great harm has resulted 

 to the'poultrv industry throughout large areas in South Australia, and the 

 North-western and other districts of Victoria. Special quarantine and 

 inspection regulations are in operation to limit the spread of the pest. 



DIAGRAMS OF- FOWL TICK {Argas Americauus). 



Female. Male. 



Dorsal Aspect. Ventral Aspect. Ventral Aspect. Dorsal Aspect. 



(Two and three-quarter times natural size.) 



Treatment. — Ticks of all kinds are easily destroyed by many medicinal 

 agents such as those mentioned for the destruction of lice. Kerosene and 

 carbolic acid are particularly effective. For sheep any of the arsenic or 

 tar-product sheep dips are used with success especially after shearing. 

 The special dips that have been found most effective for cattle tick will be 

 fully described when that scourge is being dealt with. 



In regard to fowl fick it has been noticed that where there are ant hills 

 near the hen-roost the fowls are little troubled with the pest. The greatest 

 drawback to the eradication of the disease is perhaps the fact that ticks 

 will suT\'ive for months without contact with fowls or birds of any kind 

 so that the killing off of infested fowls is not sufficient. The destruction 

 by fire of the infested fowl houses fences and other harbor for the ticks 



is necessary. 



{To be continued.) 



