Siphonaptera, or Fleas 125 



Indeed it is not altogether a question of susceptibility, for fleas seem 

 to have a special predilection for certain individuals. The typical 

 itching wheals produced by the bites are sometimes followed, especi- 

 ally after scratching, by inflammatory papules. 



The itching can be relieved by the use of lotions of carbolic acid 

 (2-3 per cent), camphor, menthol lotion, -or carbolated vaseline. 

 If forced to sleep in an infested room, protection from attacks can 

 be in a large measure gained by sprinkling pyrethrum, bubach, or 

 California insect powder between the sheets. The use of camphor, 

 menthol, or oil of eucalyptus, or oil of pennyroyal is also said to afford 

 protection to a certain extent. 



In the Eastern United States the occurrence of fleas as household 

 pests is usually due to infested cats and dogs which have the run of 

 the house. We have seen that the eggs are not attached to the host 

 but drop to the floor when they are laid. Verrill, cited by Osborn, 

 states that on one occasion he was able to collect fully a teaspoonful 

 of eggs from the dress of a lady in whose lap a half -grown kitten had 

 been held for a short time. Patton and Cragg record seeing the 

 inside of a hat in which a kitten had spent the night, so covered with 

 flea eggs that it looked "as if it had been sprinkled with sugar from 

 a sifter." It is no wonder that houses in which pets live become 

 overrun with the fleas. 



One of the first control measures, then, consists in keeping such 

 animals out of the house or in rigorously keeping them free from fleas. 

 The latter can best be accomplished by the use of strong tar soap 

 or Armour's "Flesope," which may be obtained from most druggists. 

 The use of a three per cent solution of creolin, approximately four 

 teaspoonfuls to a quart of warm water, has also been recommended. 

 While this is satisfactory in the case of dogs, it is liable to sicken cats, 

 who will lick their fur in an effort to dry themselves. Howard 

 recommends thoroughly rubbing into the fur a quantity of pyrethrum 

 powder. This partially stupifies the fleas which should be promptly 

 swept up and burned. 



He also recommends providing a rug for the dog or cat to sleep 

 on and giving this rug a frequent shaking and brushing, afterwards 

 sweeping up and burning the dust thus removed. 



Since the larvae of fleas are very susceptible to exposure, the use 

 of bare floors, with few rugs, instead of carpets or matting, is to be 

 recommended. Thorough sweeping, so as to allow no accumulation 

 of dust in cracks and crevices will prove efficient. If a house is once 



