CATTLE LICE AXD HOW TO ERADICATE THEM. 17 



the tar oils and the cresylic acid in the diluted dip up to 1.2 per cent 

 by weight. 



In the undiluted coal-tar creosote dips, especially in cold weather, 

 a separation of naphthalene and other constituents of the dip may 

 occur. Care, therefore, should be taken to see that the dip is homo- 

 geneous in character before using any portion of it. 



The coal-tar creosote dips should be used in accordance with the 

 instructions printed on the label of the container. 



NICOTIN DIPS. 



The nicotin dips are sold under various trade names, and farmers 

 and live-stock growers are more or less familiar with them from 

 using them as dips for animals and as insecticides for insect pests of 

 plants. They are efficacious remedies for cattle lice when diluted 

 with water so that the solution contains not less than five one- 

 hundredths of 1 per cent of nicotin. If used much stronger than 

 0.05 per cent they are liable to injure cattle, especially if the animals 

 are dipped while they are hot. but if properly used they cause no 

 injury. A field test has been designed by one of the large manu- 

 facturers of nicotin dips so the percentage of nicotin in the dipping 

 bath may be ascertained at the vat side at any time. Xicotin dips 

 should be used in accordance with the instructions printed on the 

 label of the container. Do not use any preparation the strength of 

 which is not given on the label. 



Xicotin dips usually are used warm, but should not be heated above 

 110 F. During dipping operations for lice the temperature of the 

 dip should be maintained at 90 to 95 F. 



Sulphur is sometimes added to nicotin dips in the proportion of 

 16 pounds flowers of sulphur to 100 gallons of diluted dip. Very 

 little of the sulphur is dissolved in the dip, but a part of it remains 

 in suspension in the bath during dipping and becomes lodged on the 

 skin of the animal, where it remains for a long time, thus tending 

 to prevent reinfestation. 



DIPPING PLANTS. 



The farmer who has but a small number of animals to dip may 

 use a portable galvanized metal vat (fig. 9). These vats may be 

 purchased ready-made, and they will answer the purpose very well 

 for dipping small lots of light or medium weight cattle. After 

 digging a trench and setting the vat so that the top is flush with 

 the surface of the ground, a chute and a slide board should be pro- 

 vided as a means of getting the animals into the vat. 



A permanent dipping plant is much more satisfactory, and where 

 there are a number of farmers in a community who want to dip their 



