THE HOG-LOUSE 101 
clothing, they occur even in closets of hotels, depots, and 
similar much-frequented places. 
If these lice occur only in few numbcrs they simply cause 
a violent itching; if large numbers are found together they 
can cause a sort of scab, aconsequence of the continuous 
scratchings by the infested person. 
They can be destroyed by simple ointments, emulsions of 
etherial oils, by unguents, or by the sulphuret washes 
already mentioned. Red precipitate is most frequently used. 
This louse, as well as the body-louse, had formerly a 
very bad reputation, and judging from numerous accounts 
given in old publications they caused a fearful disease, the 
Phthiriasis. According to history Herodes, Philipp I. of 
Spain, Max. I. of Germany, and other persons, died from 
this disease, but in more recent times no authentic cases 
have been observed. 
All true lice which infest our domesticated animals have 
been placed in another genus of lice, for very insufhcient 
reasons, however, as they vary but little from those infest- 
ing man. The generic characteristics of the genus Hemato- 
pinus are: head obtuse or truncated in front, the middle 
segments of the abdomen well separated, and the posterior 
legs much the longer. Eyes very minute or absent. Lice of 
this genus have the same habits as those found upon man, 
and are most abundant upon neglected animals, or upon 
animals that have been for a long time confined in stables. 
THE HOG-LOUSE. 
(Hematopinus urius Nitzsch). 
This is the largest louse known, measuring from 3 to 
4.5mm. (one-quarter of an inch) in length. Its color is 
brown, yellowish-brown, or yellow, witha whitish abdomen. 
The margin of the head is dark-brown, and each joint of the 
feeler possesses in the middle a dark ring. A brown, Ssix- 
cornered spot is usually found upon the under-side of the 
thorax; the legs are also ornamented with brown rings, and 
the claws are quite dark. The spiracles are placed in 
blackish. horny plates along the sides of the abdomen. 
