358 THE DOG IN DISEASE. 



carbolic acid or cresol has been added suffices to kill, or 

 nearly kill, the fleas. 



In all cases the dog should be gone over with a fine 

 comb and the vermin taken off and burned, for thej have 

 a way of reviving after w^ashing that is astonishing. 



Another plan that gives excellent results is to get the 

 dog to stand over some clean boards, so that any fleas fall- 

 ing may be seen and trodden on ; and with a shallow, flat 

 dish containing coal oil at hand, pass a fine comb dipped 

 in this fluid through the hair and rapidly rub off the fleas 

 as caught into the shallow dish of oil. 



But in any case, under certain unfavorable conditions, 

 keeping dogs even moderately free from fleas is no light 

 labor, and nothing but watchfulness and work will accom- 

 plish it. 



The constant worry from fleas or lice may seriously 

 derange a dog's health, or with the scratching produce ec- 

 zema. 



Lice can be easily destroyed by treating as for fleas, 

 as recommended above, especially by the first method, but 

 the comb will also be necessary, and in puppies with long 

 ears freedom is secured only at the price of ceaseless 

 vigilance. 



Washing young puppies is to be avoided as a rule. 

 Washing the head after treatment with oil, etc., will often 

 suffice. However, with special care, washing is not the 

 bane to puppies some would have us suppose. Of two 

 . e\dls, washing and lice, the former is much to be pre- 

 ferred. In the author's own kennel no unfavorable re- 

 sults have ever followed washing puppies with the precau- 

 tions as to rapidly rinsing, drying, etc., he employs. 



