Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-07-07
Vermin on Stock.
Hon. Warren Brown

o vi 'ho HOSU serious drawback | haG
10 encounter ON entering the business O.
farming, was beginning with stock of cattle
covered with vermin To such an extent
mad the thing gone, that enough had taken
up ther abode in the wood work about the
tle-up and stanchions, so that an animal
"hlch was introduced free from lice would
soon become badly infested. and would RIM
down in flesh and become poor To remedy
the evil L had recourse to great variety of
eXpedlents and remedies, with various re-
suits. Tobacco water, produced by boiling
the stems OF refuse tobacco, or by soaking it
IN water for several days, was the remedy
generally used about here for the purpose.
The objections l found to this were that if
was extremely disagreeable to prepare and
apply, sometimes made the animals sick and
often dld its work imperiectly. Sometimes
when 1t seemed to be strong it failed to kill
them. Oll and grease put upon the head
and shoulders, and well rubbed in wOuld
generally kill them, but it was quite Job to
do 1t effectually, and was liable to some 9TH
er opJectlonS. 1t was never favOrite rem
edy with me. Mercurial ointment was etfec-
III
on any part of the body that they could
lick. once lost a valuable calf, and have
known others to lose valuable animals by it's
careless use. Etfectual, but it should not be
recommended for general use. Kerosene
was used, but unless considerably diluted
removed the hair, and if much weakened
failed to kill them, and will never prove a
satisfactory remedy. Dusting with road dust
or any such fine material being the remedy
applied by wild animals in the natural state
dld good business. | once made them
scarce by busting with fine ground plaster of
Paris. All the remedies named with great
many others, were tried the woodwork was
Whitewashed everywhere to kill such as were
living in the barn; yet with all my care and
remedies, they still managed to propagate
themselves in such numbers as to seriously
Interfere with the growth of the stock, and
render the profits exceedingly small 1t
seemed, after number of years of warfare,
as if it were to remain permanent evil
At one of the agricultural conventions,
held in Manchester, met Mr.. I. l.. Goodale, .
OF Maine, at that time State chemist who |
told me how to make a good article of car
bolic soap, stronger and better than that sold
for the purpose, and much cheaper, which /
would be sure death to all parasitic insects +
which intest domestic animals, which proved /
to be of great value to me, as l have not had \
any trouble from vermin OF the kind since
1t was made as follows: Put common bar
soap into pan containing little water, then
heat until melted down then add carbolic
acid crystals, which may be had of any
druggist at low price by the
pound Il bought bottle for 80 cents add
1T least one ounce Of acid to each pound of
soap used, there is no danger if used strong
er, and it is advisable to add q little more
han have named. To reduce the crystals
to a fluid state remove the cork from the
bottle, Place in water and heat the water,
when it may be easily poured out and mixed
with the soap. When COOL a strong suds
made with this soap will be sure death to
Ill insects which live on domestic animals
will cure mango, barn-itch and all cutaneous 1
diseases, and makes 4 cheap and effectual
heep dip. When cattle are hide-bound or
he hair does not appear healthy, a wash of
he suds will prove a decided benefit, and it I
s cleansing and healing in case of sores. 1t {
s valuable in the poultry house; with q '
mall force pump such as many people have,
he inside may be wet down two Or three
ines year, making vermin on the fowls an s
mpossibility.
A soap of this kind should find place on '
Ii well regulated premises. 1t is a good s
sintectant, is cheap, safe and effectual, and |
viii be useful for great variety of purposes. Y
have communicated this so that if any of
our readers have domestic animals suffering 9
rom vermin they may safely and easily rid i
hem of their presence. !