EXPERIMENTS AGAINST CHICKEN LICE AND DOG FLEA. 7 



thalene, paradichlorobenzene, sabadilla seeds, sassafras bark, sodium 

 fiuorid, flour of sulphur, and refined sulphur. Only a few of these 

 materials can, however, be considered of any practical value in the 

 control of chicken lice. Arsenic trioxid is too poisonous; barium 

 fiuorid, cloves, sabadilla seeds, and paradichlorobenzene are too 

 expensive, or not readily available in large quantities; naphthalene 

 is dangerous if applied too freely, 6 and barium tetrasulphid does not 

 kill all of the lice. 6 



Sodium fiuorid, which was first tested in 1915 and found to be 

 very effective, is the most practical remedy given in this list. This 

 material has been tested on a practical scale by F. C. Bishopp and 

 H. P. Wood 7 and is recommended by them as the best insecticide 

 for the control of this pest. 



The materials listed below were found to be of no value against 

 chicken lice: 



Angelica root. 

 Calcium carbonate. 

 Calcium fiuorid. 

 Calcium hydroxid. 

 Calcium oxid. 

 Calcium sulphate. 

 Colocynth pulp. 

 Diatomaceous earth. 

 Dolomitic lime. 

 Eucalyptus leaves. 

 Ferrous oxid. 

 Flour, wheat. 

 Gypsum. 



Hellebore. 



Lime, air slaked. 



Lime, water slaked. 



Magnesium carbonate. 



Magnesium oxid. 



Magnesium silicate. 



Orris root. 



Quassia chips. 



Road dust. 



Silica. 



Sodium bicarbonate. 



Vermilion. 



Yellow ochre. 



The fact that 26 different finely powdered materials — 7 organic 

 and 19 inorganic — were found to be of no value shows the fallacy of 

 the old idea that any fine powder is effective against chicken lice if 

 dusted into the feathers. 



W SUMMARY. 



1. Oil mixtures were effective when lightly sprayed on the birds. 

 When used as dips or when well rubbed into the feathers the treated 

 fowls were killed. Oil emulsions were effective at a dilution not 

 greater than 1 to 100. 



2. Fumigation with oil preparations, the infested bird being placed 

 in a sprayed or painted box for not less than 30 minutes, was effective. 

 The fowls were somewhat injured by this treatment, but soon re- 

 covered. 



3. Oil preparations were of no value against chicken lice when 

 painted or sprayed on the roosts, dropping boards, and the whole 

 interior of the chicken house. 



6 See page 6. 



7 Bishopp, F. C, and Wood, H. P. Mites and lice on poultry. U. S. Department of Agriculture 

 Farmers' Bulletin 801. 1917. 



