THE HOG-LOUSE 101 



clothing, they occur even in closets of hotels, depots, and 

 similar much-frequented places. 



If these lice occur only in few numbers they simply cause 

 a violent itching; if large numbers are found together they 

 can cause a sort of scab, a consequence of the continuous 

 scratchings by the infested person. 



They can be destroyed by simple ointments, emulsions of 

 etherial oils, by unguents, or hj the sulphuret v^ashes 

 already mentioned. Red precipitate is most frequently used. 



This louse, as well as the body-louse, had formerly a 

 very bad repiitation, and judging from numerous accounts 

 given in old publications they caused a fearful disease, the 

 Phthiriasis. According to history Herodes, Philipp II. of 

 Spain, Max. I. of Germany, and other persons, died from 

 this disease, but in more recent times no authentic cases 

 have been observed. 



All true lice which infest our domesticated animals have 

 been placed in another genus of lice, for very insufficient 

 reasons, however, as they vary but little from those infest- 

 ing man. The generic characteristics of the genus Heemato- 

 pinus are: head obtuse or truncated in front, the middle 

 segments of the abdomen well separated, and the posterior 

 legs much the longer. Eyes ver3' minute or absent. Lice of 

 this genus have the same habits as those found upon man, 

 and are most abundant upon neglected animals, or upon 

 animals that have been for a long time confined in stables. 



THE HOG-LOUSE. 



{Ilicmatoplnus uriux Nitzsch). 



This is the largest louse known, measuring from 3 to 

 4.5mm. (one-quarter of an inch) in length. Its color is 

 brown, yellowish-brown, or yellow, with a whitish abdomen. 

 The margin of the head is dark -brown, and each joint of the 

 feeler possesses in the middle a dark ring. A brown, six- 

 cornered spot is usually found upon the under-side of the 

 thorax; the legs are also ornamented \vith brown rings, and 

 the claws are quite dark. The spiracles are placed in 

 blackish, horny plates along the sides of the abdomen. 



