The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-10
PETS ARE BLAMED
FOR WICKED FLEA
DOGS AND CATS NATURAL PREY
OF THE INSECTS.
Experiment Station Issues an Instruc-
tive Bulletin Telling How to Get Rid
of the Summer Pest, and How and
Where They Breed Cleanliness Is
Prescribed.

A press bulletin recently issued from
the chronological division Of the state
experiment station, describes, among
other parasites, the fea,J which some
times makes life so unpleasant for hui
man beings: 1t states that the flea
which so often gives trouble at lake
and seaside resorts is not the human
lives on cats and dogs. The bulletin
says:
The eggs Of this species are laid among
the hairs of the dog or cat (according to
some authorities, in the bedding of the
animals, and not on the hairs, and readi-
~ drop off. Hence they may be dis
tributed in any room to which these ami
mails have access, and will be found par
tlcularly numerous In places which they
especially frequent, such as rugs before
the fire, and the like. The larvae which
hatch from the eggs in about two weeks,
are white, footless, with a pale yellow
head They live in the dirt of undis-
turbed carpets or rugs, or beneath the
same In cracks and crevices Of the floor,
feeding upon minute particles Of decaying
vegetable or animal matter found there
in. They become full grown in about
twelve days, turn into pupae, and from
ten to sixteen days come forth as full
grown fleas. Thus the time elapsing from
the laying Of the eggs to the perfection Of
the flea is, in round numbers, about forty
days.
The Best Treatment.
Houses where rugs are used in place
of carpets or straw mating, allowing Of a
frequent, thoro shaking and cleaning Of
the rugs, and frequent and thoro sweep
ing Of the bare floors, coupled with q
scrubbing other special treatment of
the latter are naturally less troubled
than houses where the floor coverings are
fastened down, thus allowing the insects
to develop without disturbance. When
serious infestation Of the house occurs.
carpets in infested rooms should be gen.
erously busted with Persian insect pow
der. If this treatment Is not successful,
carpets and floors as far as possible should
be sprayed with benZine, or gasolene,
proper precaution being taken to prevent
the fumes coming in contact with lights
and fires during the operation, and for
some hours afterward. If necessary, and
in addition to the above, carpets or mat
ting should be taken up: thoroly beaten
out of doors, and the floors thoroly washed
with hot soapsuds, taking care to reacf
every crevice. One writer claims tina
spraying a badly infested house, inside
with pennyroyal, a somewhat expensive
process, will quickly drive them from th'
building. 49, -
The cat or the dog can be made to sleel
on rug provided for the purpose, AM
this rug shaken out of doors, away iron
the house, frequently, or, perhaps, pet
ter than this, shaken into some recep
tacle, and the dust containing the egg
and maggots burned. This Of itself woul'
be a decided help. 49,
A Wash for the Animals.
For Kidding a cat or dog of f1eas, creo
r lin for sale at many drug stores Is tn
best agent known to us. For dogs, us
| four teaspoonfuls of this liquid in quar-
| | of water; for cats, two teaspoonfuls IN
!, quart Of water. Shake well and appl
with the hands or a brush, or max
= enough to submerge the animal. The AMI
t NAL requires no further washing. I'm
: heas upon the fur will be killed and tn
: fur benefited. Floors may also wen
/ treated with this same preparation uslil
Q it twice as strong as for dogs, ana IN
: animals bedding or mating upon Wnlc
a thew sleep can be frequently submerge
t with good results. Of course, fieas WI
q return to a cat or dog when sufficient tin1
J, has ELAPSED after treatment as above. w
l. must remember that the neglected DEC
: ding (of pets) is the chief source
. trouble.
u This bulletin also treats OF the pa
asites of horses, COWS ana pou!Iiy, ~
s and may be obtained Tor notnlng =
n applying to the experiment statlon' .
u Anthony Park, ....ss