CATTI,E. 331 



is tlie most familiar to cattlemen. The body is about an eighth of an 

 inch long, and not more than one-third of that in width. The head is 

 very long and slender, and no eyes are visible. In color there is little 

 difference in the two species. 



There is but one species of biting lice known to occur on cattle, the 

 Trichodectes scalaris. This is very common on cattle. It is very dis- 

 tinct from the suctorial species in appearance, and this is readily recog- 

 nized by all observers, for it is generally called "the little red louse," in 

 contrast with the blue louse. They are also less injurious than the 

 former. 



The biting louse possesses a mouth provided with biting and cutting 

 jaws. They attack the animal along the spine, hips, rump, and some- 

 times the neck and head. 



Symptoms. lyousiness generally becomes manifest in winter and 

 towards spring, when the animal is found to rub the infested portions of 

 the body, occasionally to such an extent as to produce excoriations of 

 the skin. It then becomes thin in flesh and debilitated. A close 

 examination will reveal the true state, and prompt attention is ad- 

 visable. 



Treatment. The treatment does not vary for the three species, 

 although the short-nosed louse is the most diificult to destroy. Take a 

 half pound of Cocculus Indicus (fish berries,) for each animal, pound 

 fine, then add two quarts of vinegar, and set it on the stove to simmer 

 for an hour. Apply this thoroughly by rubbing it well into the hair 

 over the infested region. This will not injure the skin or sicken the 

 animal, and it remains effective long enough to kill all the young lice as 

 they are hatched from the nits. Prof. Riley's kerosene emulsion is also 

 vefy effective, and is made as follows: kerosene, two gallons; common 

 or whale oil .soap, one-quarter pound; water, one gallon. Heat the solu- 

 tion of soap and add it boiling hot to the kerosene; churn the mixture 

 for five or ten minutes. Dilute the emulsion with eight parts of water, 

 and apply it to the animal by a thorough rubbirg. Fifty animals can 

 be treated with ten gallons 01 the liquid. 



Ticks or Ixodes. There are several species of ticks that attach 

 themselves to cattle. The most common in this country is the Booph- 

 ilus bovis. They are most numerous on uncultivated land, prairies, 

 and woodland. They attach themselves to cattle on the thighs, flank, 

 and neck, where they fill themselves with blood and then drop to the 

 ground. They bore into the skin and cause considerable irritation of 



