6 BULLETIN" 131, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



Two applications, one in June and one in August, are recom- 

 mended. The present writer is not aware whether this observation 

 has been corroborated or not. 



INTERNAL REMEDIES FOR REPELLING FLIES. 



It would hardly seem likely that a drug could be administered to 

 animals that would prevent flies' from making their customary 

 attacks. However, Ochmann (1911) has recommended potassium 

 tellurate for this purpose. According to him this chemical does not 

 affect the general health of animals. The hair, however, becomes 

 temporarily rougher, paler, and drier. The expired air, the per- 

 spiration, and the feces take on an intensely offensive garlic odor 

 which persists for a long time. 



Two dogs received on two successive days each 0.25 gram of po- 

 tassium tellurate. The results appeared on the day of the first ad- 

 ministration and lasted three to four weeks. The olfactory sense of 

 one dog suffered considerably. One of the dogs formerly troubled 

 with ticks was no longer affected. The dogs were protected from 

 flies. 



An ass was given 0.25 gram of the chemical in the feed for three 

 days. The action was negative. Another ass received on three suc- 

 cessive days 0.25 gram. On the second day the odor appeared in 

 the breath and disappeared one day after the last dose. 



A mule received on three successive days 1.5 grams. The odor 

 appeared on the day following the first administration and gradu- 

 ally disappeared in 10 days. There were no unfavorable results. An- 

 other mule was given on three successive days 0.5 gram. The odor 

 appeared on the day following the second dose and disappeared one 

 day after the last dose. A mule received on two successive days 2 

 grams. An intense odor appeared on the second day and disap- 

 peared after six days. 



The author states that flies lighting on the animals were repelled. 



Mayer (1911) conducted experiments for the purpose of verifying 

 Ochmann's results, and reached quite different conclusions. Ten ex- 

 periments were carried out, nine on horses and one on a cow. Each 

 animal received in all 10 grams in single doses of from 1 to 5 grains. 

 The best method of administering the drug was to dissolve the salt 

 in drinking water. Subcutaneous administration leads to dry ne- 

 crosis. The drug was taken unhesitatingly and caused no ill results 

 except occasionally a staring coat in fine-haired animals. The garlic 

 odor of methyltellurid appeared in the breath of the cow and was 

 present for a long time. The odor appeared to a very slight degree 

 in the breath of three of the horses, but disappeared very soon. 



