106 THE DOG-LOUSE. 



sheep confined in the same pen. The eifect of the presence of 

 such multitudes of irritating lice was plainh^ seen by the 

 poor condition of the sheep, and by its restlessness. The 

 illustrations (figs. 75 and 76) show both sexes, and one of 

 the eggs. The entire skin of this louse is beautifully 

 chagreened, as indicated in the illustration. 



THE DOG- LOUSE. 



{Hmmatopinus jyiUferus Burm.). 



This extremely troublesome louse seems to defy all at- 

 tempts to dislodge it from its host, the dog; at all events it 

 is no easy matter to free dogs once 

 ^/ "^ *' infested by these unpleasant guests. 



_^ The louse is about 2mm. long with 



' ^' a six-sided head and thick feelers. 



The thorax shows divisions into seg- 



^#^C^^ ments and is trapezoidal in shape. 



P ' The large abdomen has segments not 



rj ' strongly marked. The underside of 



P^^'^l^t"!^, ''"'i the parasite is closely covered w^ith 



^^i*!*^'^^^^^ hairs and minute eminences, which 



are fe\ver in numbers upon the dorsal 

 surface. Legs are about equal in 



Fig. 77.-Dog-io«se. Great- ^^ngth and thickucss. Head and 

 lyeniarged. Original. thorax ycllow or brownish-ycllow, 



abdomen yellowish-brown or light yellow. Fig. 77. 



The skin of this louse is quite transparent, so that the 

 food consumed can be detected in the intestines. 



Remedies. — All lice infesting our domesticated animals 

 should be removed as soon as detected, as animals harbor- 

 ing such blood-sucking and irritating guests become restless 

 and weak. There are many remedies that can be used. 

 White precipitate or ammoniated chloride of mercury, used 

 as an ointment and -u^ell rubbed in, is an excellent remedy 

 for this purpose. Being very poisonous, the dog has to be 

 muzzled, and the substance has to be washed off with soap 

 and water after a few days or when no longer required. A 

 very weak solution of nitric acid is stated to be also a good 

 liquid remedy. 



