LICE WHICH AFFECT DOMESTIC ANIMALS 335 



making it necessary to thoroughly drench the cow. It has no poisonous 

 properties. It is a logical remedy, since the lack of oiliness in the 

 skin of the cow is a fundamental reason for her being lousj'. Linseed 

 oil can be put on at the time of grooming or cleaning the cows, thus 

 doing two things in one application. From four to five cows can be 

 treated with a pint. 



Raw linseed oil can be best applied with a brush having bristles of 

 unequal length, of which the rice fibre brushes are probably most durable. 

 When applied with a sponge, the shedding hairs become matted on the 

 sponge, making application a little more difficult. 



It takes about five minutes to apply linseed oil to the cow's coat 

 and a slight oiliness will remain for several days, which is a desirable 

 feature. On some animals the loose skin may scurf or lift, giving one 

 the impression that some little irritation has been caused. But if one will 

 give the condition study, he will see that there has been no inflammation 

 or reddening of the tissues, but that the loose epidermis has lifted. 



The use of raw linseed oil as a control for cattle lice is neither new 

 nor patent. It has been used by scores of dairymen in the past with 

 good results. Some have used it once and expected that application 

 should last for the whole year and have been anxious to get some one 

 treatment that would do for all the time. A few others have possibly 

 noticed a slight scurfing of the skin on some animal and have decided that 

 it was burned by the application. If, however, raw linseed oil is applied 

 in the right manner and repeated at necessary intervals, it will be 

 found to be one of the most eff'ective agencies for the control of cattle 

 lice, and will save time, labor, and injury to the animals. 



The use of boiled linseed oil is not recommended as there is some 

 little danger of bums in using it, particularly if it is rubbed forcibly 

 into the skin. 



To avoid any danger of raw linseed oil scurfing or burning the skin 

 observe the following directions. Do not rub the skin too vigorously 

 when applying the oU. Do not allow the animals that have been treated to 

 go out in the strong sumlight until at least twelve hours after applying the 

 oil. Do not exercise the animal after the treatment. Do not cover the 

 cow. Do not use the boiled or refined linseed oil. 



Linseed oil is used internally for other purposes and is a safe 

 remedy if properly applied. 



SPKAYS 



Many dairymen practice spraying cows and some have obtained 

 good results from using spray materials such as creolin, kerosene emul- 

 sion, tobacco solution, and arsenical washes. A small bucket pump an- 



