EXTERNAL PARASITES. 357 



ing the site for a kennel, and in all its arrangements the 

 flea question should be kept prominently in view. On a 

 sandy soil the sand-flea may prove extremely troublesome, 

 and nothing but a conversion of the soil into another sort, 

 or removal of the kennel, will suffice. 



The removal of all rubbish, manure, old straw, spent 

 or used sawdust, and the free use of wood ashes with lime 

 below, will do much to keep down the flea pest. Coal 

 ashes and loam together make a good, hard yard, which 

 can be readily swept clean. All boxes used for sleeping 

 places, and all cracks, should be frequently subjected to 

 treatment with some of the agents that destroy these ver- 

 min. This subject has been dealt with in an earlier part 

 of the work. 



The agents and methods of destroying fleas are legion. 

 Various powders, soaps, oils, acids, etc., are all efficacious, 

 and the choice of the one or the other should depend on 

 circumstances. It is to be remembered that insects breathe 

 by pores, and that if these are filled up with oils, powders, 

 etc., they must perish. 



If a dog has but few fleas, the Persian or Dalmatian 

 insect powder may be dusted through his coat conveniently 

 from a little bellows, while he sits on papers to avoid loss, 

 as the cost of this article is considerable. 



When there are many dogs in a kennel badly infested 

 with fleas this method will not prove of itself successful. 

 The plan the author has found most satisfactory is the 

 following : Cover the dog all over with a mixture of equal 

 parts of cotton-seed oil and crude coal oil, and in half an 

 hour wash the animal thoroughly with strong soap. In 

 some cases simply washing in water to which some crude 



