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["Marie McHarry" <mmcharry AT gmail.com>]

 I got this from a dog list, but considering Gene's experience, I
thought everyone might benefit.

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A school nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And
it really works!!

I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove
a tick.
This is great, because it works in those places where it's sometimes
difficult to get
to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark
hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the
soap-soaked cotton ball
and let it stay on the repulsive insect for a few seconds (15-20), after
which the tick will come out on it's own and be stuck to the cotton ball
when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it
(and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient
and easier for me.

Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be
damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice
because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with
tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say,
"It worked!"