70 POULTRY DISEASES 



tedious to apply, is justified by the excellence of the results 

 obtained from its application. Care must be exercised in 

 using blue ointment, as there is some danger accompanying 

 its excessive use. The same is true to a large extent of the 

 other ointments. 



Older chickens may be either dusted with insect powder 

 or dipped in a preparation for destroying the parasites as 

 we dip larger animals. Pyrethrum is an excellent powder 

 for ridding birds of lice ; this should be sprinkled in the 

 dusting places of ■ the infested chickens. Dusting places 

 should always be provided. 



An insect powder gun is needed for dusting the birds. 

 This may be secured at almost any drug store. 



If it is the wish to dip the birds, prepare a five per cent 

 solution of creolin, or the same strength of either Zenoleum 

 or Kreso dip. 



The- Maine Agricultural Experiment Station gives the fol- 

 lowing directions for freeing birds from lice: 



When the treatment of individual birds for lice becomes 

 necessary some kind of powder dusted into the feathers thor- 

 oughly seems to be, on the whole, the most effective and ad- 

 visable remedy. The powder used must be of such a nature, 

 however, that it will be effective. There are so-called "lice 

 powders" on the market which are no more effective than 

 an equal quantity of any inert powdered substance would be. 

 It is not only a waste of money but of time as well to use 

 such powders. At the J\Iaine Station no louse powder has 

 been found that is so satisfactory as that originally invented 

 by Mr. R. C. Lawry, formerly of the poultry department of 

 Cornell University. This powder (which can be made at a 

 cost of five cents per pound) is described as follows by the 

 Maine Station: 



In using any kind of louse powder on poultry, it should always 

 he remembered that a single application of it is not sufficient. 

 When there are lice present on a bird there are always unhatched 

 eggs of lice (nits) present, too. The proper procedure is to follow 

 up a first application of powder with a second at an interval of 

 four days to a week. If the birds are badly infested at tbe be- 

 ginning:, it may be necessary to make still a third application. 



The louse powder which the station uses is made at a Ccst of 

 only a few cents a pound. In the following way: 



Three parts of gasoline and one part of crude carbolic acid, 90-95 

 per cent strength, or, if the 90-95 per cent strength crude carbolic 

 acid cannot be obtained, take three parts of gasoline and one part 

 of cresol. 



Mix these together and add j,radually, with stirring, enough 

 plaster of paris to take up all the moisture. As a general rule 

 it will take about four quarts of plaster of paris to one quart 

 of the liquid. The exact amount, however, must be determined by 



