4 Georgia State College of Agriculture 



DEFINITIONS. 



Parasite. A living organism, either animal or vegetable, that 

 lives upon or obtains its nourishment from any other living organ- 

 ism. 



Animal Parasite. An animal organism which in its manner of 

 life complies with the above description. 



Parasitism. The state of being infested with parasites. 



Parasitic Disease. A diseased condition affecting an animal in- 

 fested with parasites. 



External Parasite. One affecting the skin or coat of the animal. 



Internal Parasite. One found in the flesh or internal organs. 



Permanent Parasite. One that passes its entire life on one host. 



Transitory Parasite. One that passes part of its life on a single 

 host. 



Intermittent Parasite. One that visits the host for the purpose 

 of securing nourishment. 



Parasites of Horses and Mules 



EXTERNAL PARASITES. 



Lice. 



The common louse found on horses and mules belongs to the 

 variety, Hematopinus asini and is a blood sucking, egg laying per- 

 manent parasite. 



Symptoms. Itchiness, loss of condition, loss of hair. 



Treatment. If the coat of hair is heavy, clip and burn all hair. 

 Bathe the animal with the following solution: 



Tobacco stems, 4 ounces. 

 Water, 1 gallon. 



Boil for thirty minutes, cool and apply twice at intervals of one 

 week. 



In lieu of the above the affected spots on the skin may be rubbed 

 with a cloth saturated with kerosene or benzine. Sulphur ointment 

 is also valuable as a louse destroyer. Soak all harness and spray 

 the stalls thoroughly with 5 per cent cresol solution. 



Ticks. 



Occasionally horses and mules are found to be infested with the 

 common cattle tick or other variety of ticks. In such cases the 

 methods of treatment advised for the destruction of ticks on cattle 

 should be applied. 



Flies. 



Several species of flies infest horses and mules, principally in- 

 termittently in order to suck blood. One species is a common in- 

 ternal parasite. 



Green Head Horse Fly (Tabanus lineola). This fly is about the 



