THE MALLOPHAGA 163 



Control of Lice on Poultry. — Various methods of control for poultry 

 lice are in use, but in most cases at least, the best one is the use of sodium 

 fluorid, dry or dissolved in water. Either the commercial or the chemi- 

 cally pure grade can be used but the commercial is somewhat easier to 

 work with, particularly for dusting the fowls. 



The first step in treatment is to shut up all the fowls. Then each 

 bird is taken and while being held either by the wings or legs with one 

 hand, pinches of the powder are placed in among the feathers, ''one on the 

 head, one on the neck, two on the back, one on the breast, one below the 

 vent, one on the tail, one on each thigh, and one scattered on the under- 

 side of each wing when spread." For young birds dusting rather than 

 dipping is advisable. 



If dipping is preferred for the older birds, use warm water in a tub, 

 measuring the water put into the tub and adding from ^ to 1 oz. of 

 the commercial fluorid (or ^^ oz. of the chemically pure fluorid) to each 

 gallon of water. Dip the birds in this, holding the wings over the back 

 with one hand and ruffling the feathers with the other, below the surface 

 of the water. Then duck the head of the bird once or twice, take it out 

 of the water, let it drain for a moment and then let it go. After a little 

 experience, three-quarters of a minute per bird will be an ample amount 

 of time for this treatment. 



The water in the tub will be reduced in quantity of course, by use, 

 and more, having the proper amount of fluorid dissolved in it should be 

 at hand to add from time to time. 



Whether the sodium fluorid treatment, which has only recently been 

 discovered, will give satisfaction for the treatment of biting lice on mam- 

 mals cannot be stated. Heretofore, washing an infested animal with 

 kerosene emulsion has been advised. 



Boxes of road dust, available in poultry houses during the winter 

 months for the birds to dust themselves in, are desirable. Formerly 

 used to actually aid the birds in freeing themselves of lice, they now act 

 as indicators that lice are present and that treatment should be given 



