Lice Infesting Birds. loi 



-their nits, if that is their normal host, or without nits if only 

 transient parasites from birds of another kind. 



Prevention. This consists in the destruction of the lice and 

 nits in the houses and yards, and the exclusion of all infested 

 birds. Schneider advises carbon bisulphide in open bottles in the 

 closed buildings from which the animals are excluded. Zurn 

 found free dusting with freshly burned quicklime effectual, 

 (walls, ceiling, floor, nests, roosts, troughs, and yards). For 

 birds especially this is useful as the scratching keeps the lime 

 floating on the air and destroys the lice on the birds at the same 

 time. In a few minutes it may be swept out and buried or placed 

 in the manure pile. Whitewashing, or washing with a solution 

 of chloride of lime, tar, phenol, creolin, naphthalin, mercuric 

 chloride, copperas, or potassium sulphide, is desirable and may 

 be repeated twice a year. To complete the purification fumigate 

 thoroughly with sulphur. Yards may be sprinkled freely with 

 one of the above, and should be kept clear of manure and filth 

 which will cover and protect the parasites. 



Treatment. This consists in the destruction of the lice and 

 their nits. Certain agents are effective even if not applied over 

 the entire affected .skin. Mercurial ointment rubbed in small 

 amounts back of the horns or ears where the tongue cannot reach 

 will usually be absorbed so as to kill all the lice on the body. If, 

 however, applied over a considerable surface it is liable to salivate 

 and especially in cattle. Tar has been similarly used, and a 

 weak tar water, may be applied more freely over the body. To- 

 baco decoction (i:io) maybe used very advantageously for the 

 herbivora, whereas it is to be dreaded in vomiting animals 

 (omnivora and carnivora). 



For more general application we may use sulphur ointment 

 (1:3 or 4); potassium sulphide solution (1:10); calcium sulphide 

 solution (4:100, or sulphur 12, unslacked lime 8, water 50 gal- 

 lons: boil); oil of tar liniment (1:20 of olive oil); oil of cade 

 liniment (1:15); black hellebore decoction (i>^ oz. ; i qt.); oil of 

 lavender or oil of spike i, alcohol 10 ; creosote in vaseline (1:4); 

 naphthalin in vaselin (1:5); creolin solution (1:10); benzine i, 

 soft soap 6, water 20; or stavesacre 2 ozs., water i qt. Powders 

 may be employed : thus Persian insect powder, .snuff, naphthalin 

 or powdered walnut leaves may be blown on the skin having 

 raised the hair, fuir or feathers for the purpose. Whatever agent 



