12 



BULLETIN 888, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



orris root, red pepper, quassia chips, road dust, sodium fluorid, 

 sodium sulphite, flour of sulphur, refined sulphur, and sublimed 

 sulphur. 



It is of interest to note that sodium fluorid was found to be of no 

 value against fleas, although it is very effective against chicken lice, 

 it being considered by Bishopp and Wood 13 as the best remedy for 

 this pest. 



Sulphur, which has often been recommended against fleas, was 

 found in nine tests to be of no value. 



TOBACCO POWDERS. 



A series of nine tobacco powders containing from 0.11 to 4.56 per 

 cent of nicotine was tested. The powders containing 1 per cent or 

 more of nicotine were somewhat effective, but even the highest per- 

 centage used did not kill all of the fleas. Since the tobacco powders 

 sold on the market as insecticides rarely contain as much as 1 per cent 

 of nicotine it can be readily seen that they can not be relied on for 

 the control of this pest. , 



SPRAYS. 



Table V gives the results of tests with emulsified disinfectants used 

 as sprays against the dog flea. 



Table V. — Results of tests with emulsified disinfectants used as sprays against the dog flea. 



Test No. 



Phenols. Soap. 



Other active ingredients 



Inert 

 ingredi- 

 ents. 



Dilu- 

 tion. 



Number 

 of dogs 

 used. 



Fleas 

 killed or 

 repelled. 



Per cent. 

 5.20 

 50. 21 

 10. GO 

 17.20 

 16.80 



Perct. 



(?) 

 27. 10 



(?) 

 23.40 

 22. 40 



16. SO > 22.40 



10.80 j 20.40 



10.80 20.10 



54. 00 20. 00 



12. 30 

 10.80 

 30. 40 



32.40 

 20.10 

 (?) 



Creosote and mineral oil. 



Neutral coal-tar oils 



Neutral coal-tar oils, 53.1 per cent. 

 Neutral coal-tar oils, 52.4 per cent. 



Neutral coal-tar oils, 52.4 per cent. 

 Neutral coil-tar oils, 61.3 per cent. 

 Neutral coal-tar oils, 61.7 per cent. 



Neutral coal-tar oils, 48.9 per cent. 

 Neutral coal-tar oils, 61.7 per cent. 

 Neutral coal-tar oils, 65.5 per cent. 



Per cent 

 water. 



(?) 



(?) 

 6.3 

 8.4 

 6.6 

 8.4 

 7.5 

 7.5 

 26.1 

 7.4 

 8.4 

 7.5 

 4.1 



None. 

 1- 50 

 1- 64 

 1- 64 



1- 75 

 1- 75 

 1-100 

 1-128 

 1-130 

 1-200 

 1-250 

 1-260 

 1-260 

 1 264 



Per cent. 



100 



100 



100 



95 











































1 An active ingredient is a material effective against dog fleas when used at a proper dilution. 

 s An emulsified coal-tar disinfectant. 



This table shows that as a class the emulsified disinfectants are 

 effective against fleas when used as sprays at a dilution not greater 

 than 1 to 64 (1 tablespoonful to a quart). This method of controlling 

 fleas, however, is not a very satisfactory one since it is difficult to 

 spray a dog properly and, in the case of dogs with long, thick hair, 

 it is not easy to force the spray through it. 



13 Mites and Lice on Poultry, Farmers' Bulletin 801, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



