EXTERNAL PARASITES. 631 



recommend it. Another plan is dusting in ammoniated mercury, and brushing it out again in 

 a couple of hours. N.H. The dog must be muzzled all the time, as it is virulent poison. 

 This is better for short than long-haired dogs. Common sweet oil is as good a cure as any ; 

 and you may add a little oil of anise, and some sublimed sulphur, which will increase the effect. 



The matted portions of a long-haired dog's coat must first be cut off with a scissors, for 

 there the lice often lurk. One thing must not be forgotten namely, that this dressing will 

 not kill the nits, so that after a few days the dressing must be repeated, and so on three or 

 four times. To do any good, the whole of the dog's coat must be drenched in the oil, and 

 the dog washed, with good dog soap and warm water twelve hours afterwards. 



Hunting recommends, to kill lice and fleas, a solution of soft soap in spirits of wine, 

 medicated with creosote in the proportion of one ounce to a pound of the soap. It is very 

 effectual. You pour a portion of it along the spine, and down the legs and thighs ; work 

 it into a lather with warm water, and well work it all over the coat. Then wash clean, and 

 give a bucket-bath of soft water. 



Many other antiparasitics might be mentioned, but few are more effectual than those we 

 have named, and few so free from danger. 



3. Ticks. 



We have noticed these disagreeable bloodsuckers only on the heads and bodies of sporting 

 or Collie dogs, who had been boring for some time through coverts and thickets. They soon 

 make themselves visible, as the body swells up with the blood they suck, until they resemble 

 small soft warts, about as big as a pea. They belong to the natural family, Ixodiada. 



Treatment. If not very numerous, they should be cut off, and the part touched with a 

 little turps. The sulphuret of calcium will also kill them, so will the more dangerous white 

 precipitate, or even a strong solution of carbolic acid, which must be used sparingly, however. 



