422 FLEAS 



in this manner. Another device, used by the Chinese, is a rod 

 of bamboo, smeared with bird lime, fitted inside of a larger piece 

 of bamboo which has holes cut in it. A trap 

 of similar type may be constructed by fitting a 

 piece of broomstick wrapped with sticky fly 

 paper inside a wire cylinder (Fig. 187). Such 

 a " flea stick " can be rolled about on floors or 

 in beds and will collect a large proportion of 

 the flea population. Another trap consists of 

 a glass of water with about an inch of oil on 

 the top of it fitted with a little wick in the 

 center of a floating piece of cork. This is 

 placed in the center of a dish of strong soap- 

 suds and lighted at night. The light attracts 

 the fleas, which leap headlong into the soap- 

 suds. 



The destruction of fleas, especially cat and 

 dog fleas, on domestic animals is often neces- 

 FIG 187. A sar y m or der to do away with a flea scourge, 

 modification of the Dogs and cats, or other hosts, may be cleared 

 Co!Tst?ucted a of^a of fleas b y washing them in two or three per 

 broomstick wrapped cent solution of creolin (about one tablespoon- 

 fitwIf^cyuS ^1 to a quart of warm water), or some other 

 of wide-meshed wire derivative of creosote, or a similar solution of 

 potassium sulphide. According to Bishopp, 

 the solution should be worked into the hair with a brush, 

 and care should be taken to wet the fleas which crowd 

 toward the head of the animal. After about ten minutes 

 the solution should be washed off with warm water and soap, 

 at least in delicate-skinned animals such as cats, to avoid a 

 burning effect. Another method of treatment is to rub 

 powdered moth-balls (naphthaline) into the fur. This causes 

 the fleas to emerge from the fur in a stupefied condition in 

 which they are easily captured and destroyed. Except to sicken 

 cats slightly for a day or two this treatment has no ill effect 

 on the host. 



Of temporary value in flea-infested places is the use of repel- 

 lents, such as oil of pennyroyal, eucalyptus oil, etc., smeared on 

 shoes or clothing, or between bed sheets. Beds may be isolated 

 by elevating them to some distance from the floor, or by sur- 



