REMEDIAL MEASURES. 49 



recent division, but also iu respect of nomenclature of species, habits, 

 and means of prevention. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — The following observation on "de- 

 struction of Fleas " is taken from the work mentioned below* ; — 



" To destroy those of Dogs, insecticide powders which have for 

 their basis the flowers of pyrethrum, stavesacre, or wormwood, are 

 sprinkled over the animal, so as to fall between the hairs ; or the skin 

 may be rubbed with common or laurel oil, with which a little powdered 

 tobacco" [care should be taken as to amount of tobacco, or much 

 harm may be done to the animals, E. A. 0.] "has been mixed, and a 

 soap-bath given twelve hours afterwards. Some people are content to 

 use sulphurated, benziuated, or creolined water, or powdered parsley 

 or wormwood, 



" Cleanliness, baths, washing with potash, carbolic, or cresylicated 

 soaps prevent the multiplication of Fleas. Kennels or other places 

 invaded by these creatures should be treated with boiling water or 

 limewash. 



"Pine shavings have been recommended as bedding for Dogs, 

 with a view to keep away Fleas. It has also been recommended to 

 have the floors of kennels made of the staves of old tar barrels, laid 

 edgeways between the stones. The persistent odour of the tar does 

 not hurt the Dogs, and it drives away the Fleas. The same result is 

 arrived at in sprinkling on the floor creoline powder, or creolinated 

 water, five or ten per cent. 



" For poultry, the same measures may be adopted, or those pre- 

 scribed for lice." — (L. G. N. ; trans. G. F.) 



Kemedial dressings, however — as, for instance, of pyrethrum, or 

 even sprayings with benzine — do not seem always very certain in their 

 action ; and, failing these, the simple and efiective method advised by 

 Dr. L. 0. Howard (Entomologist of Board of Agriculture, U.S.A.) is 

 to take up all floor coverings and ivash the Jioor with hot soapsuds. This 

 treatment can easily be carried out in the matter of application of a 

 good supply of hot soapsuds to many cases besides house floors ; dog- 

 kennels, hens' laying-boxes, the floors of hen-houses, and outhouses cf 

 all kinds may thus be cleared. Good application of moisture, and also 

 taking care that fowl-runs are where the ground is open to rainfall, 

 have been found to answer well. 



Pat shortly, the fact of the eggs and grubs being found in situations 

 where they are not liable to be much disturbed, as in dust in chinks 

 in floors, in, or on, or under carpets, matting, door mats, cloths, &c., 

 is the point to work on ; and besides all applications in the way of 



* 'Parasites and Parasitic Diseases of Domesticated Animals,' p. 61, by L. 

 G. Neumann; translated by G. Fleming, C.B., &c. 



