62 Observations on Parasites and Parasitic Diseases 



terval of five or six days, and in some instances even a third 

 application of it will be required after a similar lapse of time. 

 Oleaginous preparations are very effective for the purpose, espe- 

 cially if mixed with sulphur and oil of turpentine, but they are 

 sometimes objectionable on the score of cleanliness, if used upon 

 our better bred horses. A good mixture of the kind is composed 

 of pure neat's-foot oil, ten parts, oil of turpentine, five parts, and 

 sulphur, two parts. In using this compound care should be taken 

 that the animal be dressed from head to foot with it, or many of 

 the parasites will escape unharmed. 



Decoction of tobacco made by boiling from two to three ounces 

 of strong shag-tobacco in a gallon of water, and when cold, satu- 

 rating it with common salt by adding about three pounds of this 

 agent to the gallon is a clean, safe, and very effective remedy 

 when properly applied. The same may also be said of a satu- 

 rated solution of the sulphide of potassium, which should, however, 

 be applied to the skin as soon as made. 



Mercurial and arsenical preparations ought never to be used 

 upon the horse, so large a quantity being required to cover his 

 skin. They possess no advantages over more simple and less 

 dangerous agents in the destruction of lice, while they have often 

 been known to produce serious ill-consequences, both by their 

 local action and by their being absorbed into the system. 



Both varieties of the louse of the horse are also common to the 

 ass. They are by no means unfrequent dwellers on this animal, 

 as may be inferred from the great privations he has so often to 

 endure, and the sad neglect to which he is exposed. If well fed, 

 however, and kept only moderately clean, the ass does not appear 

 to be more susceptible to these parasites than the horse, if indeed 

 he be so much so. 



Lice of the Ox. 



Both Hcematopinus and Trichodectes are met with on the 

 ox ; the former perhaps more frequently than on any other 

 domesticated animal. The Hwmatopinus, however, chiefly in- 

 habits the furrows of the skin on the upper part of the neck and 

 shoulders, to which it is often confined for many weeks together. 

 Its existence here is not necessarily connected Avith ill-health, 

 nor with lowness of condition ; on the contrary, it is met with on 

 cattle that are gaining flesh, and going on perfectly satisfactorily. 

 Especially is this the case during the winter, when the cattle are 

 in the fodder-yards. So common, indeed, are these lice at this 

 time, that specimens may be procured from nearly every herd 

 Avhich is examined ; both young and old animals being equally 

 affected. During this time of year, also, the lice are very inactive, 

 and show but little disposition either to leave their favourite spot, 



