Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-01-28
Kill the Xermin.

/
| - William H. McEI0Y
| Kill the Vermin.
Those who have the care of young
horse stock should keep sharp look
out from now until next May to see
that the animals do not become Gov
cred with lice. This duty is especially
important to those whose stock is
stabbed in the vicinity of hen roosts.
Colts frequently suffer long time from
these vermin before their presence is
discovered.
There is variety of small white lice
| hair that it takes a keen eye to detect
| them from dandruff. They collect
mostly around the neck and fore
shoulders of the colt, and may some
times be found swarming there In large
numbers, when but few can be found
upon the body or other parts of the an
imals They multiply very rapidly.
Take the colt into the light and place
him in such a position that the sun
may shine upon his neck and shout
ders if possible. Open the hair and ex-
anime carefully all along the neck and
shoulders. If any traces of lice or nits
are discovered set about DISCRIMINATING
them at once, for lousy colt is in con-
slant misery and cannot thrive like one
free from vermin.
Fortunately it is not difficult TO exter-
inmate these pests if the proper rene
dies are applied and followed up faith
fully. Probably the safest and most
convenient remedy is Persian insect
powder. This can be obtained of any
druggist, and should be fresh, as that
which has been kept great while loses
a portion of its strength and is not so
effective. The powder should be we'll
rubbed in all over the body, but par
ticularly on both sides of the neck, at
the roots of the name and tail and over
the shoulders. 1t should be thoroughly
applied every two or three days for a
couple of weeks.
Tobacco smoke is the best remedy we
have ever tried. Any skilful tinsmith
can make smoker from Russia iron in
the form of cylinder some two inches
in diameter and eight or nine inches in
length. The end of the cylinder which
delivers the smoke should be closed by
tightly fitting, circular piece of iron,
at least an eighth of an inch in thickness.
A hole should be made in the centre of
this end piece, and into this hole should
be fitted a small, hollow tube, some four
inches in length, and about the size Of a
pipe stem at the free end which emits
the smoke.
A finely perforated piece of iron
should be fitted into the tube about all
inch from the end next to the small
tube, to keep the tobacco from clogging
the latter A closely fitting iron plug
an eighth of an inch or more in thickness
should be closely fitted to the other end
Of the large cylinder. A hole should be
made through the centre of this plug,
and threads should be sunk into it like
those on the inside of nut to which a
bolt is fitted.
A pair of ordinary stout bellows should
be obtained, and upon the iron nose of
the bellows threads should be cut SO
that when prepared they will exactly fit
the threads sunk on the inside of the
hole in the iron plug that has been fitted
to the end of the tube.
Such an apparatus properly prepared
is one of the very best louise extermi-
majors yet devised, as it does its work
ing the animals. When the machine is
in readiness get quantity of cheap,
strong, plug tobacco. Cut the plugs
fine or tear them up with the fingers,
and fill the cylinder, leaving a small
space next to the end where the bellows
are applied; then place hardwood
| live coal upon the tobacco in the centre
of the open end, put in the plug
attached to the bellows nozzle and work
! the bellows gently.
| Care should be taken not to pack the
| tobacco SO closely in the cylinder that
| the smoke cannot be driven through it.
Have the patient hitched In the end Of
wide stall, or in the stable floor,
where he is usually groomed. APP
proach him carefully, and let him smell
& L We Ia u ho1l
! ly. Place the end of the tube which
! delivers the smoke near the ends of the
| hair and move IL along as the bellows Is
worked.
A little practice will render the oper-
ator an expert. The tube should be
| moved in direction opposite to that In
! which the hair lies, SO az to drive the
smoke into the roots of the hair. After
! the operator gets accustomed to It's use,
one cylinderful OF tobacco will furnish
sufficient smoke to exterminate the lice
| on four animals.
| Too much force must not be applied
to the bellows, for if the false bottom in
| the cylinder is coarsely perforated the
application of too much force to the
| handles of the bellows will be likely to
drive the burning tobacco through the
| tube and endanger the buildings. The
| bellows should never be set against
woodwork directly after using, as the
cylinder will sometimes become so hot
as to soon set fire to any wood that II
may come in contact with.
Some use decoction of.auassa bark,
with which they wash the unfortunate
animals. This will do in warm wealth
er, but is dangerous remedy for win
ter use We have seen cases of pneu-
monia result from washing colt in 6
| decoction of tobacco stems in the