MITES 513 



I'ippinp; is even more effective. "In using the clipping 

 metliod all that is necessary is a supply of tepid Wcater and a 

 wash tub. If two persons are to dip at the same time it is 

 advisable to use a large tub. The water should be measured 

 into the tub and three-fourths to one ounce of commercial 

 sodium fluoride added to each gallon of water. It is readily 

 dissolved by stirring. In dipping, it is best to hold the 

 wings over the back with the left hand and quickly submerge 

 the fowl in the solution, leaving the head out while the feathers 

 are thoroughly rufl^led with the other hand so as to allow the 

 solution to penetrate to the skin. The head is then ducked 

 once or twice, the bird lifted out and allowed to drain a few 

 seconds and then released. The total time recpiired for an 

 indi\idual fowl is thirty to forty-five seconds."' 



When the dipping is done on a warm, still day so that the 

 birds dry out quickly no ill effects seem to follow. 



Blue ointment (mercurial) has been foimd satisfactory 

 when worked into the featiiers about the vent. The 

 mercurial ointment may be made by thoroughly mi.xing the 

 following: 



Mercury ...... 1 pound 



Lard ... . 1 " 



Vaseline . . . . . 1 " 



Liver Enlargement. — This condition is sometimes some- 

 what diflicult for the ordinary producer to diagnose in the 

 live liird. It is usually accompanied by an increase in the 

 fowl's weight and frecjuent evacuations of dark yellow semi- 

 liquid feces. It is sometimes accompanied by excessive 

 thirst. ^A'itll postmortem examination, however, the liver 

 will be foimd enlarged, mottled in color, easily torn apart, 

 and greasy. This disease is most likely to occur toward the 

 end of winter when the supply of green feed has been deficient. 



The treatment consists of feeding the whole flock liberally 

 of succulent feed of some kind, first giving the birds a wet 

 mash containing a teaspoonful of Epsom salts for each 

 bird in the flock. 



Mites. — There are more species of mites than lice, but, as 

 in the case of lice, it is not necessary for the practical poultry- 



I Farmers' Bulletin, No. 801, U. S. Dept. of Agric. 



