26 Farmers' Bulletin 801. 



a cost of labor, as above computed, of about 87 cents per hundred 

 fowls and a total cost for material and labor of about $1. This 

 reduces the cost so that it is within the reach of every one, especially 

 when it is considered that ordinarily much time is occupied in fight- 

 ing lice without accomplishing that complete destruction which 

 would result from a single treatment as above outlined. 



OTHER REMEDIES FOR LICE. 



While the use of sodium fluorid is advised in all cases, it may be 

 stated that one application of flowers of sulphur when applied 

 thoroughly in dust form has been found to destroy all stages of 

 several species of lice experimented with. In a few instances, 

 however, some lice remained on the fowls after treatment. This was 

 attributed to the difficulty of getting the dust over every portion 

 of the fowl but at the same time it shows that exceedingly thorough 

 and careful application of sulphur is required to secure complete 

 destruction. About four days are required for the fowls to be freed 

 of living lice. The ready availability of flowers of sulphur and its 

 comparatively low cost per pound tend to recommend it for this 

 use. Furthermore, it is not disagreeable to handle. 



A number of poultry raisers, however, have stated that mjury to 

 the fowls sometimes results from the use of sulphur, although the 

 writers have seen no injury further than a very slight scaling of the 

 skin following treatment. It is possible that the injury observed by 

 some was due to mixing the sulphur with grease or other substance. 

 To accomplish complete destruction the writers have found it neces- 

 sary to use considerable quantities of sulphur, averaging about 6 

 pounds per hundred fowls, which at 10 cents per pound would make 

 a cost of 60 cents for the material. The expense of application 

 would be about one-half greater than that given for the use of sodium 

 fluorid by the pinch method, as it is necessary to apply the sulphur 

 with a dust can. The total expense would therefore be greater than 

 by using sodium fluorid by the pinch or the dipping method. 



The writers have found also that dipping fowls in a soap solution 

 made by dissolving 1 ounce of laundry soap in a gallon of water will 

 destroy all lice present, but a second dippmg 10 days later is neces- 

 sary in order to destroy the lice that have hatched from eggs which 

 are not killed by the treatment. This soap solution causes a com- 

 plete wetting of the feathers, and hence there is no doubt danger 

 of producing colds when the weather is unfavorable. It should be 

 used only during favorable weather. 



A great number of remedies are in general use m this country, 

 only a few of which can be mentioned here. A mixture of crude 

 carbolic acid, gasolme, and plaster of Paris is quite effective in 

 reducing the number of lice, but experiments have sho^vn that at 



