TREATMENT OF LOUSINESS.—The preventive treatment is very important. This consists in carefully examining all animals or birds that have been purchased recently, and if found to harbor lice, excluding them from the herd or flock until after they have been properly treated.
It is impossible to rid animals of lice if the quarters are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. This is necessary in order to destroy lice that have become scattered about by the lousy animals, and prevent the reinfection of the treated animals. The best method to use in cleaning the quarters is to remove all litter and manure from the stable or houses and their immediate surroundings. It should be burned, or hauled to a field or lot where other animals cannot come in contact with it for a few months. The walls, floors and partitions should be sprayed with a three per cent water solution of liquor cresolis compositus. Lime may be scattered about the buildings, yards and runs. The most satisfactory method of destroying lice on the bodies of animals is by washing or dipping in a water solution or mixture of some reliable disinfectant or oil.
Running hogs through a dipping tank that contains a one or two per cent water solution of liquor cresolis compositus, or a coal tar disinfectant, or that has from three-fourths to one and one-half inches of oil on top of the water, is the most satisfactory method of destroying the hog louse. Because of the thinness of the hog's coat and the danger from irritating the skin when strong solutions of a disinfectant are used, most swine breeders prefer crude oil as a remedy for lousiness in hogs. Crude oil may be applied to the bodies of hogs with a swab. If this method is practised instead of dipping, it is advisable to crowd the hogs into a small pen, and apply the oil in front and between the thighs and back of the arms. This may be practised during the cold weather when it is impossible to dip the animals.
Horses may be washed with a one or two per cent water solution of liquor cresolis compositus, or a coal tar disinfectant. If the weather is cold, it is advisable to pick a sunny day, and blanket the animal after rubbing it as dry as possible in order to prevent chilling and catching cold.
Cattle may be treated in the same manner as horses. Mercurial ointment rubbed in small amounts on the skin back of the horns and ears, where the animal cannot lick it, is a common remedy. The absorption of a small amount of this drug does the animal no harm, but a larger quantity may salivate it.
Sheep are treated by dipping in a water solution of a reliable coal tar disinfectant. This should not be practised during cold weather, as the fleece does not dry out. Insect powder may be dusted into the fleece when it is impossible to dip the animal.
A very satisfactory treatment for lousiness in dogs and cats is to wash them with carbolized soap. We should wait a few minutes before rinsing off the soapy lather and drying the coat.
A number of different remedies are used for the treatment of lousiness in poultry. Dust baths and insect powder are recommended. Ointments are commonly used. One part sulfur and four parts vaseline, or lard, may be made into an ointment and applied to the head, neck, under the wings and around the vent. Mercurial ointment may be applied to the margin of the vent. Neither of them should be used for destroying lice on young chicks. Mercurial ointment should be used very carefully because of its poisonous effect. Lard may be used for destroying lice on young chicks. Crude petroleum may be sprayed among the feathers by a hand-sprayer, while the fowls are suspended by the feet.
[Illustration: FIG. 66—Sheep-tick.]
None of the disinfectants and oils recommended for dipping and washing lousy animals destroy the nits. This makes it necessary to re-treat the animal in from eight to ten days after the first treatment.