I94 DISEASES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



eotomy may facilitate the process. Injections of a few drops of tur- 

 pentine or ether into the trachea may prove successful in killing the 

 parasites. A 5 per cent, solution of sodium salicylate is also said 

 to destroy the worms injected intratracheally. The henhouse, 

 roosts, premises and drinking utensils must be thoroughly cleaned 

 and disinfected, while the sick are quarantined elsewhere. 



Pediculosis — Phtheiriasis — Lice. 



The various species of animals are attacked by two kinds of 

 lice — the pediculi (or haematopini) or blood-suckers, and the 

 trichodectes or epidermis-eaters. There are also special species of 

 these insects which attack the several species of our domestic ani- 

 mals. Thus in cattle P. eurysternus and tenuirostris infest the poll 

 particularly ; in the horse, P. equi is seen along the back and root of 

 the tail ; P. suis is found on the back and armpits, inside of thighs, 

 and about the eyes and ears in swine ; and P. piliferus attacks dogs. 

 The aged, and poorly cared for in the way of diet and cleanliness, 

 are more often infested. The existence of lice is suggested by the 

 scratching and biting which they lead to in our patients, by the loca- 

 tion of the itching and signs of dermatitis in these locations with loss 

 of hair and sometimes a greasy secretion on the skin of unpleasant 

 odor, scaliness, and the occurrence of nits or eggs glued to the hair. 



The localities affected by lice are in general the poll and along 

 the crest of the neck, back and root of the tail and extremities. 

 Cattle are most often attacked, although all animals are susceptible. 



Treatment. — The hair on the patients should be clipped in long- 

 standing cases and the hair should be burned. After isolation of 

 the patients the premises should be cleaned thoroughly, washed with 

 5 per cent, solution of potassium hydroxide and disinfected by burn- 

 ing sulphur (see p. 282). The skin must be first washed with 

 green soap and water and the special parasiticide applied and re- 

 applied three times at weekly intervals to kill the new generations 

 of lice, which hatch from the egg in about six days. In dogs the 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



