BXTEEJfAL PARASITES. 103 



soap, will poison by absorption through the skin, and that when 

 there is no abrasion. I have had numbers of instances of it brought 

 under my notice, and two very well marked cases I personally 

 treated. In one case, a toy terrier, great depression arid trembling 

 were followed by profuse bleeding of the nose, and the dog died, 

 despite all that could be done. Another case was that of a strong fox 

 terrier. His mistress was herself washing him with a carbolic acid 

 soap when she was called away to see a visitor and for some 

 short time the dog was left with the lather fi-om the soap upon 

 him ; the result was very great depression and weakness, with con- 

 stant trembling and loss of appetite. I gave the dog brandy and 

 quinine and iron, as well as cold douches, followed immediately with 

 brisk and continued rubbing, and he recovered, but it was several 

 weeks before he regained his usual health. 



Some years ago Spratts' Patent brought out a dog soap at my 

 suggestion, and I have found it in practice thoroughly suited to its 

 pm'pose. The advantages it possesses are that it contains nothing 

 poisonous to man or dog, but a vegetable iasecticide that proves 

 certain death to fleas. I have frequently seen, after washing with 

 carbolic acid and other dog soaps, the fleas apparently dead, but, 

 on being put under a glass la the sun, their very lively actions have 

 soon proved they were not dead, but had only been for the time 

 .stupefied. Spratts' soap, however, kills them outright, and among 

 its minor advantages it is colourless, and improves the coat and skia. 

 Naldire's is another harmless soap ; while 1 part of Jeyes' Fluid to 

 40 of water, or Newton Chambers's Izal, will readily kill fleas. 



A strong infusion of quassia, made by suspending a couple of 

 ounces of quassia wood chips, tied in a piece of muslin, in a bucket 

 of water, for two or three hours, occasionally stirring it, is useful in 

 killing fleas ; it is free from danger, and being almost) colourless is 

 an advantage in washing white dogs. The infusion must be used 

 instead of plain water with either soft soap or curd soap, a good 

 lather being made to penetrate the dog's coat to the skin. Some 

 plain w^ater should be poured over the dog to finish the washing and 

 remove the quassia from the coat. 



Whatever insecticide is employed, its application should be 

 repeated several times, to ensure perfect eradication of the pests. 

 This will be the better understood if a brief sketch of the life- 

 history of the lively Uttte creature is given. UnUke the louse, the 

 flea undergoes what entomologists term a complete metamorphosis, 

 egg, larva, pupa, and perfect insect stages having to be passed. 

 Contrary, too, to the general belief, the flea is parasitic in the last 

 stage only. That being so, the advisability of treating the kennel 

 ii-iUi something destructive to the eggs, larvae, and pupae, will at 



