178 DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



that have become infested at shows and other places. 

 Contagion must, therefore, be accepted as the cause of 

 this plague, and it should be guarded ag'ainst on the 

 same principles as are the infective elements of other 

 communicable diseases. 



Treatment. — Young chickens hatched under hens 

 almost invariably have lice upon them and should be 

 treated as soon as removed from the nests. An effica- 

 cious and safe remedy in this case is pure lard. It 

 should be carefully rubbed into the feathers upon the 

 top of the head and under the throat. Lard obstructs 

 the breathing pores of the lice and soon kills them. 

 Nothing should be mixed with the 

 lard to increase its activity as such 

 young birds are very sensitive to the 

 action of irritants and are seriously 

 injured by them. Some recommend 

 mixing powdered sulphur with the lard 

 for this purpose ; but it should on no 

 account be used on small chickens as 

 it causes inflammation of the eyes and 

 arrests the growth. Pure lard is 

 Litmr%-.%o,m. harmless and will kill the lice, con- 

 (Fowis.i sequently it can be used with full 



confidence. A small quantity may also be rubbed 

 under the wings, but this is not usually considered 

 necessary until the chicks are a week or two old. 



Chickens hatched in the incubator should be free 

 from lice, and will be unless the incubator has in some 

 way become infested. It is well to examine even in - 

 cubator chicks occasionally for lice as the incubator or 

 brooder may have these insects introduced into them 

 in various ways and then become favorable places for 

 the growth of the parasites as well as for the develop- 



