210 DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED BIRDS 
Combating lice. Owing to the habit of lice of 
remaining upon the host, the most direct method of 
combating them consists of the application of an in- 
- secticide to the bird. 
=  Bishopp and Wood favor starting a campaign 
Als ‘against lice in the late summer or early fall. The 
HCE weather conditions are favorable and the amount of 
AT Ne stock to be treated is the lowest of any time in the 
| year. There is no reason to prevent a flock from 
being entirely freed from lice and kept free. 
‘These writers conclude that the commercial grade 
oe 40. Body of sodium fluorid is the most satisfactory agent to 
ouse (Menopon i . c 5 3 . 3 
biseriatum): use against lice. It kills lice in all stages including 
ee oP view those hatching subsequent to its application. They 
reatly enlarged. 5 . 
(Bishopp and apply the agent in two ways. When applied in the 
biipeas powdered form, the bird is held in a pan to catch 
superfluous powder. They apply one pinch on the head, one on the 
neck, two on the back, one on the breast, one below the vent, one on 
the tail, one on either thigh and one scattered on the inner side of 
each wing when spread. They recommend this method of applica- 
tion for newly hatched birds and sick birds exclusively. The action 
of the powdered sodium fluorid is comparatively slow, but it remains 
on the bird, and in four or five days all lice will disappear. The 
dust is somewhat irritating to the air passages and the operator 
should wear a dust protector over the mouth and nostrils. The 
powder causes a transitory effect only on the air passages of the 
treated birds. The method costs about $1.25 per hundred fowls, 
calculating the man’s time at 20 cents per hour. 
Applying the agent in solution by dipping has the advantage in 
reducing cost of materials and is more rapidly done, without discom- 
fort to the operator. Furthermore, the lice die very promptly after 
being touched by the fluid. The first requisite is a warm, sunny day 
so that the fowls will dry quickly. The solution is prepared in a tub 
in the proportion of three-fourths to one ounce of commercial sodium 
fluorid to each gallon of tepid water. In dipping the birds, the wings 
are held over the back with the left hand while the bird is sub- 
merged in the solution with the head out. The feathers are thor- 
oughly ruffled with the right hand to secure penetration of the fluid 
to the skin all over the body. The head is ducked once or twice, the 
bird is drained a few seconds and is released. The work of dipping 
should be stopped sufficiently early in the afternoon to permit the 
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