336 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



eat offal of any kind. Let their food be well cooked, and their skins 

 and kennels kept scrupulously clean. Dogs that are used for sheep 

 and cattle ought, twice a year at least, to go under treatment for the 

 expulsion of worms, whether they are infested or not ; an anthelmintic 

 would make sure, and could hardly hurt them. 



For the expulsion of tape-worms we depend mostly on areca-nut. 

 In order that the tape-worm should receive the full benefit of the 

 remedy, we order a dose of castor oil the day before in the morning, 

 and recommend no food to be given that day except beef-tea or mutton 

 broth. The bowels are thus empty next morning, so that the parasite 

 cannot shelter itself anywhere, and is therefore sure to be acted on. 



Infusion of cusco is sometimes used as an anthelmintic, so is worm- 

 wood, and the liquid extract of male fern, and in America spigelia root 

 and pumpkin seeds. 



The best tonic to give in cases of worms is the extract of quassia. 



Extract of quassia, 1 to 10 grains ; extract of hyoscyamus, t to 5 

 grains. To make one pill. Thrice daily. 



PARASITES. EXTERNAL. 



Fleas. 



Washing with Spratts' medicated soap. Extra clean kennels. 

 Dusting with Keating, and afterwards washing. This may not kill the 

 fleas, but it drives them off. Take the dog on the grass while dusting, 

 and begin along the spine. Never do it in the house. 



Ticks. 



I 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, Jxodiadae. 



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. 



Lice. 



The lice are hatched from nits, which we find clinging in rows, and 

 very tenaciously too, to the hairs. The insects themselves are more 

 difficult to find, but they are on puppies sometimes in thousands. To 

 destroy them I have tried several plans. Oil is very effectual, and has 

 safety to recommend it. 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. Quassia water may be used to damp the coat. 

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

 scissors, for there the lice often lurk. The oil dressing will not kill the 

 nits, so that vinegar must be used. 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 oil, and the dog washed 

 with good dog soap and warm water twelve hours afterwards. 



