Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1917-05-11
SODIUM FLUORID
FOR CHICKEN LICE

. nee OF cnlckenS, entOmOloSlstS OF the
/ Department of Agriculture have dis
/ covered. This inexpensive white
powder, they find, will rid flock
OF all the seven common species of
1 chicken lice in a few days One
/ pound, costing only 40 or SO cents
at the time OF this writing, is enough
to treat 100 fowls. if busted on. If
dissolved in water and used as a dip,
the same amount will go three times
as far 1t is easily applied, econom-
zeal, gives immediate results, and
does not injure the fowls or the
poultryman.
The complete effectiveness of the
sodium fiuorid remedy and methods
Of using it are discussed in Farmers
Bulletin sol of the o. S. Department
OF Agriculture, Mites and Lice on
Poultry" by f. c. Mishopp and H.
p, Wood. The bulletin deals also
with mites, the night pests of chick
ems. which require a different treat
ment Lice are the biting insects
that work by day and are a serious
foe in neglected small flocks of gen
eral farms and back yards.
Sodium fluorid it plainly to
the druggist or you may get sodium
chlorid, common salt, which it not
only resembles in name but in APP
pearance may be obtained at most
large drug stores Until its recent
use against cockroaches. and still
more recently against poultry, this
substance had not been employed as
an insecticide. The demand for it,
therefore, has been quite limited,
and it is not ordinarily found in the
stock of the small drug store. Drug
gists, however. can obtain it readily
from manufacturing chemists. and
with demand, it likely will be carried
by local dealers. The finely pow
dered commercial form is cheaper
and more easily applied by the dust
ing method than the fine. crystal
liZed sodium fluorid.
busting With Sodium FIuorid
To apply the material in dust form
place it in an open vessel on a table
and with one hand hold the fowl by
the legs or wings. With the other
hand place small pinches of the
chemical among the feathers next to
the skin, according to what is known
as the pinch" method. which pro-
ceeds as follows: One pinch on the |
head, one on the neck, two on the |
back, one on the breast, one below |
the vent one on the tail one on
either side of each wing when
spread. Each pinch can he distribut-
ed by pushing the thumb and fingers
among the feathers as the material
is released If the chicken is held |
over the vessel. the material which |
falls from the fowl during the oper-
alton is recovered.
The material also may be applied |
by means of a shaker, but this meth |
Cd has some disadvantages as com
pared with the pinch" method. !
When this method is used the |
amount of sodium fluorid may be re-
duced by adding four parts of some
finely powdered material, such as
road dust or flour, to each part of
the fluorid The dust, while not
poisonous, is somewhat irritating to
the nose and throat. If allowed to
remain on the skin in any quantity
for any great length of time. it may
cause slight local irritation. For
these reasons, those busting a large
mum Der of chickens would do we'll to
cover nose and mouth with dust
guard or damp cloth and to wash
their hands occasionally.
Dipping With Sodium Fluorid
The dipping method is more eco
nomical but among many poultry
raisers there is a general sentiment
against the practice of dipping fowls,
largely because most of the dips con-
tain materials which dscolor the
feathers, The sodium fluorid dip,
however, is harmless and as com
pared with busting is more easily
done. As it is necessary that the
fowls dry quickly, dipping is most
applicable in the southern states and
to summer treatments in The north
For lice on young chickens, young
turkeys and in fact all newly Matched
or sick fowls, the application of sod
ium fluorid in the dust form is
recommended.
This is the way the dip is pre-
pared; In tub of tepid water dis
solve the poison at the rate of three
fonrths to one ounce of the CONNER
cial powder or two-thirds of an ounce
Of the chemically pure material, to