INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CATTLE 405 



As their increase is very rapid, remedial measures should 

 be very promptly administered. To free a large herd 

 from lice when they have become numerous is no easy 

 task, hence remedial measures should begin at once 

 when their presence has been discovered. It has been 

 claimed that lice are only found on cattle in low flesh. 

 This, however, is a great mistake, as they are frequently 

 found on cattle that are far advanced in preparation for 

 the block. 



Various preparations have been used for the de- 

 struction of lice. Prominent among these are treatment 

 with kerosene emulsion, a decoction of tobacco, and a 

 decoction of fish berries. The kerosene emulsion made 

 by Prof. Riley's formula is prepared as follows : Take 

 kerosene 2 gallons, soft soap Yi pound, or i pound and 

 water i gallon. Dissolve the soap in water by boil- 

 ing and add the kerosene slowly while still boiling, but 

 to avoid danger, not in close proximity to the fire. Churn 

 the mixture ten minutes, which means to stir it rapidly 

 in the absence of a better method, and then dilute by 

 adding eight times its bulk of water. The tobacco de- 

 coction is made by steeping for an hour tobacco in water 

 at the rate of 2 ounces of tobacco to each quart of water. 

 The decoction of fish berries, Coccuhis Indicus, is made 

 by taking ^ pound for each animal, pounding the same 

 until fine and adding 2 quarts of vinegar. These are 

 allowed to simmer for one hour. The kerosene emul- 

 sion treatment is cheap and efficacious. The tobacco 

 treatment is not costly, but some caution must be used 

 lest an application too liberal should sicken the animals. 

 The decoction of fish berries, though dearer, has the 

 merit of destroying the nits. These are usually applied 

 with a brush, and should be present in quantity sufficient 

 to penetrate the hair to the skin. In cold weather care 

 must be taken to keep the animals warm when apply- 

 ing liquid remedies. Various other remedies are used 

 which have more or less merit. Among these are coal 



