Alternatives to lindane

I read with personal interest Eric Wooltorton's article on lindane,¹ having a few years ago shared a half dozen daily baths with two lousy dogs and lindane shampoo. Inadequately labelled animal shampoo obtained through a veterinarian may in fact be a common source of lindane exposure.

Given the problems with lindane, I wonder why nicotine is not used instead. I remember helping my mother and grandfather to treat dogs with heavy flea infestations. The treatment was used for nursing bitches and unweaned puppies as well. We rubbed a ìteaÎ made from chewing tobacco into their coats, left it for several hours and then rinsed it off. This home remedy was used for flea and lice infestations of any fur-bearing animal. However, you cannot buy nicotine shampoo for lice-infested children.

Zoann J. Nugent Dundee Dental Hospital and School Dundee, Scotland