The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-03-02
Origin and Cure OF Lice.

Both cattle and horses are liable to
be disturbed by the residence of at
least three species or varieties OF what
are ordinarily known as lice. Two Of
these are individuals Of separate fami-
lies of the same order, and the third is
an accidental vsitant received by COM
ing in contact with poultry or from
poultry roosting or frequenting the
stable of the horse. The lice known as
hematopinus equi and vitula are true
blood-suckers. The other, the tricho-
dectes, lives among the hair and on the
skin, irritating by it's presence, not find
ing it's food supply from the blood d.
rect, but in the exuvia of the struc-
lures. The h@matopinus causes much
more irritation than the trichodectes
and can be easily distinguished by its
narrow and distinct chest-bearing three
pairs of legs, and the triangular head
armed with O tubulous hauetellum.
These lice are usually found on ami
mails that are neglected or suffering
from poverty or disease and want of
proper shelter. Debility seems to be
the predisposing cause, rendering the
animal proper habitant for the propa-
CATION and development of these para
sites. While the inroads of the poul.
try lice are regulated by the condition
of the poultry house or roosts and their
proximity to the barn, they attack all
classes of horses, but seem to have
preference for those which are at work
and in good condition.
Horses and cattle may have few
lice on them for some time and no
great disturbance will be observed.
But as the number of lice increases the
animal will soon show signs OF uneasi-
ness, rub himself and in some cases
will rub off the hair, abrasing the skin,
or the skin itself may undergo change
and vascular eruptions appear, no
doubt caused by the rubbing. 1t is diff
ferent in the case of poultry lice. Its
commencement 10 instantaneous. All
at once the horse is seized with violent
itching; 30 sudden and irresistible is
the desire the animal possesses to
scratch himself that he is not easy for
a moment. He will rub himself against
any resisting body near him, stamp the
ground, kick and bite himself. An
eruption of small vesicles often APP
pears on the skin, some solitary, others
in patches. These are succeeded by
falling off of the eperdermis and hair,
leaving small, perfectly circular, bare
surface, from the size of q pea to that
of a silver quarter, The formation of
these spots goes on rapidly, 80 that a
| horse with fine shining coat may in a
few days be spotted all over. The
trouble does not seem to interfere with
the animals health, Notwithstanding
the violent itching and excitement
which is experienced. But if it is of
long continuance the subject will be
apt to fall off in flesh and appetite and
grow thin and lose his condition for
work from gradual wasting of his pow
ers.
In treating either horses or cattle for
lice, the cause should be removed. If
the animal is poor it should be we'll fed
and sheltered. Fit is the poultry lice
which are causing the trouble, the hen
house or roosts should be removed and
the stable whitewashed with fresh lime.
There are number of remedies recon-
mended for the destruction of lice. An
effectual solution is made by boiling
one pint stavesacre seeds and twenty
pints of water for one hour. Keep ii
nearly at boil for one hour longer,
making up the water to the quantity
originally used. Such solution rubbed
into the skin not only kills the lice, but
also destroys their eggs. If stavesacre
seeds cannot be obtained, substitute
tobacco instead of the seeds. A simple
remedy is equal parts of coal oil and
raw linseed or cottonseed oil, but this
is difficult to remove from the hair
New England Homestead.