APPENDIX C 



One application of sodium fluorid will kill all lice Gf pigeons and chickens, entomologists of 

 the United States Department of Agriculture have discovered. One pound, costing only forty or 

 fifty cents at the time of this writing, is enough to treat one hundred birds, if dusted on. If dis- 

 solved in water and used as a dip, the same amount will go three times as far. It is easily applied, 

 economical, gives immediate results, and does not injure the fowls or the poultryman._ Sqdiimi 

 fluorid (say it plainly to the druggist or you may get sodium chlorid, common salt, which it not 

 only resembles in name but in appearance) may be obtained at most large drug stores. The finely 

 powdered commercial form is cheaper and more easily applied by the dusting method than the 

 fine, crystallized sodium fluorid. 



To apply the material in dust form, place it in an open vessel on a table and with one hand 

 hold the pigeon by the legs or wings. With the other hand place small pinches of the chemical 

 among the feathers next to the skin, according to what is known as the ' pinch "method, which 

 proceeds as follows: 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 under side of 

 each wing when spread. Each pinch can be distributed by pushing the thumb and fingers among 

 the feathers as the material is released. If the pigeon is held over the vessel, the material which 

 falls during the operation is recovered. 



- The material also may be applied by means of a shaker, but this method has some disadvan- 

 tages as compared with the " jiinch " method. When this method is used the amount of sodium 

 fluorid may be reduced by adding four parts of some finely powdered material, such as road dust 

 or flour, to each part of the fluorid. The dust, while not poisonous, is somewhat irritating to the 

 nose and throat. If allowed to remain on the skin in any quantity for any great length of time,' 

 it may cause slight local irritation. For these reasons, those dusting g, large number of pigeons 

 would do well to cover nose and mouth with a dust guard or damp cloth and to wash their hands 

 occasionally. 



_ The dipj)ing method is more economical. This'is the way the dip is prepared: In a tub. of 

 tepid water dissolve the poison at the rate of three-quarters to one ounce of thfe commercial powder, 

 or two-thirds of an ounce of the chemically pure material, to each gallon of water. The pigeons 

 should be held by the wings over the back with the left hand and quickly submerged in the solu- 

 tion, keeping the head out, while the feathers are ruffled with the other hand to allow the dip to 

 penetrate to the skin. The head then should be dipped once or twice and the bird lifted and allowed 

 to drain a few seconds- 

 Pigeons which are kept in fairly clean quarters and allowed to bathe do not have lice, but for 

 neglected pigeons which may be discovered to have lice this sodium fluorid treatment is recom- 

 mended. 



OUR LARGEST 1906 ORDER. In looking birds had a long trip to reach him. We 



back over our year of business, 1906, we recaH expect to sell him more yet, judging from his 



first an order from a customer whom we last letter. We wiU be pleased to show the 



started in 1905, with 120 pairs Extra, for correspondence at our Boston ofiice. The 



which he paid $300. We sent him 125 pairs, point we wish to make is, that we ^re the only 



five pairs free. A year later we received the firm anywhere actually filling orders this 



following telegram from him: size, or able to fill them, and that we 'earned 



" Wire bottom Drices for one thousand pairs the confidence of this customer by giving him 



Extra, including- 'two thousand nappies and his first lot of birds so good that he kept on 



date you ship." trading with us. More 1906 ■ experiences 



We quoted him our regular price for Extras, follow, 

 the same to all, namely il.70 per pair in large 



lots of 300 pairs and over. Our customer was STARTED WITH SIX PAIRS EXTRA AKD 



a man of few words and knew what he IN TWO YEARS RAISED SIX HUNDRED 



wanted. Three days after sending us the AND THIRTY-SIX SQUABS. Neariy two 



above telegram he sent us the following years ago (in October, 1904), I purchased of 



letter: " Enclosed find draft for $2111.25 as your firm six pairs of your best Extra Homer 



payment in full for 1150 pairs Extra and pigeons, from which I have been breeding 



supplies. I trust you will exert every care in since, and it may be of interest to you to have 



interest of shipment. You will please hold some particulars as to results. I should pre- 



the birds until May 10, as it will crowd me to mise by sayin? that I was, at the time, a nov- 



get my quarters ready before that time." ice pure and simi>l6 — as a matter of fact a 



We shipped 1200 pairs, giving the customer lawyer by profession — and knew absolutely 



50 pairs free. He fives in the West and the nothing of the care or culture of pigeons, 



169 



