FLEAS AND THEIR CONTROL. 15 



the fleas are thought to be breeding shouhl then be sprinkled with 

 crude oil. This species can not thrive in damp places, and if the 

 spriiikiing is done two or three times a week no further breeding is 

 possible. One of the most satisfactory methods of preventing l)reed- 

 ing is to scatter salt freely about the chicken house and then wet the 

 soil down thoroughly. Foicls should not he permitted to eat the salt, 

 as it is 2)0 ISO nous to them. 



It is rather difficult to destroy the sticktight flea on fowls without 

 injuring the host. It is desirable, however, in the case of heavy in- 

 festations to destroy as many of the fleas as possible. This may 

 be accomplished by carefully applying carbolated vaseline to the 

 clusters of fleas on the fowls, or gi-easing them with kerosene and 

 lard — 1 part kerosene to 2 parts lard. In all cases care should be 

 taken that the applications of grease are confined to the seat of in- 

 festation. It is important that dogs and cats be freed from stick- 

 tight fleas. This may be accomplished by washing them in a saponi- 

 fied coal-tar creosote preparation, as has been descril>ed, or by gi-eas- 

 ing the most heavily infested parts with kerosene and lard. Rats 

 sometimes harbor these fleas in considerable numbers, therefore their 

 destruction will aid in the control work as well as doing away with 

 another troublesome chicken pest. 



The thorough cleansing of poultry houses and runs and the appli- 

 cation of crude petroleum will be found to aid in the control of other 

 important enemies of fowls, such as mites and chicken ticks or " blue 

 bugs." 



TREATMENT OF FLEA BITES. 



In regions in the United States where the plague is not knoAvn to 

 occur no special concern need be felt regarding flea bites. AAHien 

 feeding, the fleas inject a salivary secretion which tends to produce 

 inflanmiation at the site of the puncture. Usually the bites result in 

 small inflamed spots, but occasionally, where the pests are very nu- 

 merous and in the case of susceptible individuals, more general in- 

 flammation may occur, sometimes followed by swelling and, occasion- 

 ally, especially after scratching, by ulceration. 



Those who are especially annoj'ed by the bites will find that va- 

 rious cooling applications will give relief. A 3 per cent solution 

 of carbolic acid in water applied to the bites will be beneficial, and 

 such substances as menthol, camphor, and carbolated vaseline will be 

 found to allay the irritation. Iodine in the form of a tincture, if 

 applied to the bites, will alleviate the irritation, but should not be 

 used by persons afflicted with any form of eczema, or applied to the 

 tender skin of young children, as it may stimulate the eczemic erup- 

 tions or blister the skin, causing undue annoyance. 



