EXTERNAL PARASITES. 175 



soft soap and carbonate of soda should be mixed into a paste, and 

 rubbed into the skin, on which the mixture should be allowed to 

 remain for half an hour, then put the dog in warm water for ten 

 minutes, so as to allow the fleas to be soaked in the solution, 

 taking care to immerse the head up to the eyes and nose. After 

 this wash all completely out, and dry the dog either by the fire 

 with towels, or by letting him run in the open air. In warm 

 weather neat's-foot oil rubbed into the skin of the whole body will 

 destroy every flea, but it can only safely be employed when the 

 weather is perfectly sultry, as it chills the dog almost as much as 

 water, and not drying, the chill is permanent for two or three 

 days. Great care, therefore, is necessary in the use of oil. The 

 various insect powders sold by Keating and others, also destroy 

 fleas, if the expense is not objected to. 



LICE also are easily recognised, and may be destroyed in the 

 same way as fleas, but a more easy plan is to rub some powdered 

 white precipitate into the roots of the hair over the whole body. 

 Put on a muzzle, and leave the dog with the powder on him for 

 six hours, or longer if the parasites are very numerous. Then 

 brush all out, and the lice will be found dead. The remedy must, 

 however, be reapplied in a few days, to make sure of success. 

 The dog should be kept dry, or the powder may be absorbed 

 through the skin. 



The TICK (Ixodes ricinus) is small, spider-like, and tough, as 

 represented in the annexed engraving. In colour it is a bluish-red, 

 and it may readily be known by its adhering strongly to the skin. 

 In size it varies from the magnitude of a small pin's head, to 



