74 WITH BOAT AND GUN IN THE YANGTZE VALLEY. 



VERMIN. 



Under this heading are classed fleas, lice and ticks. 

 Symptoms.— There can be no difiiculty in discovering whether a dog is suffering from any 

 of these pests. 



Examination will rapidly give ocular proof, though ticks in the feet have often a 

 happy knack of avoiding the searcher for a time. 

 Causes. — Dirty kennels ; inattention to grooming ; filthy associations. 

 Suggested Remedies. — Prevention is better than cure in regard to vermin. Perfect 

 cleanliness is fatal to the existence of these pests. 



Fleas may be destroyed by washing the dog with soft soap and warm water, 

 and after a thorough drying, dusting the skin with Keating's Persian insect powder, 

 powdered camphor, or a little powdered sulphur. "Turpentine sprinkled on shavings 

 forms a protective bedding against fleas." Lice may be killed by rubbing the 

 following concoction not on the hair but well into the skin : — 



8 oz. olive oil 

 8 oz. paraffin 

 I oz. oil of tar 

 I oz. turpentine. 



This mixture should be left on the dog for some hours, during which time the 

 animal may be walked on a chain. It can then be washed off. A second application 

 in a week's time can do no harm. 



Ticks are a horrid and disgusting nuisance. They will infest a dog in swarms 

 in a few hours. They seem to make periodical visitation, generally being found in 

 greatest numbers in the spring months and in August. 



Forcible removal appears to be the only known means of getting rid of these 

 blood-thirsty pests ; while cleanliness and a daily thorough examination should serve 

 to keep them under. 



The foregoing diseases, causes and remedies have all come under a long, 

 personal experience. There has been no attempt to state anything that has not been 

 furnished by that experience, and, for the best of reasons, no attempt has been made 

 to treat the matter in any but a common sense way. 



By those who care to go more deeply into the question of dog-doctoring the 

 following amongst other works may be consulted: the somewhat old volumes 

 of Blaine, Daniel, Youatt, Hawker and Mayhew, and the later productions of 

 Stonehenge, Woodroffe Hill, Steele, Hugh Dalziel, Idstone, Hunting, Dunn, Fleming, 

 Clayton, and others. Many owners, however, will prefer, perhaps wisely, to avail of 

 the services of our local veterinarians. 



« — QhC*%aS-TB- 



