380 THE HORSE. 



Oil, and iiaU an ounce of common turpentine. Farriers are fond of the 

 Mack sulphur, but that which consists of earthy matter, with the mere 

 dregs of the sulphur, cannot be so effectual as the flowers, which are pure 

 sublimed sulphur. A tolerably stout brush, or even a currycomb, lightly 

 appl/ed, should be used wherever there is any appearance of mange, to 

 remove the dandriff or scurf. After that, the horse should be waslied with 

 strong soap and water as far as the disease has extended ; and when he has 

 been thoroughly dried, the ointment should be well rubbed in with the 

 naked hand, or with a piece of flannel. More good will be done by a little 

 of the ointment being well rubbed in, than by a great deal being merely 

 smeared over the part. The rubbing should be daily repeated. The sul- 

 phur seems to have a direct influence on the disease — the turpentine has an 

 indirect one, by exciting some irritation on the skin of a different nature to 

 that produced by the mange, and under the influence of which the irrita- 

 tion of mange will be diminished, and the disease more easily combated. 

 During the application of the ointment, as soon as the physic has set, 

 an alterative ball or powder similar to those recommended for the other 

 affections of the skin, should be daily given. If, after some days have 

 passed, no progress should appear to have been made, half a pound of sulphur 

 may be well mixed with a pint of oil of tar, or, if that is not to be obtained, a 

 pint of Barbadoes tar, and the affected parts rubbed as before. On every 

 fifth or sixth day the ointment should be washed off with warm soap and 

 water. The progress towards cure will be ascertained ; the skin will be 

 cleansed, and its pores opened, for the more effectual application of 

 the ointment. 



The horse should be well supplied with nourishing, but not stimulating 

 food. As much green meat as he will eat should be given him, or, what 

 is far better, he should be turned out, if the weather is not too cold. It 

 may be useful to add, that, after the horse has been once well dressed 

 with either of these liniments, the danger of contagion ceases. It is 

 necessary, however, to be assured that every mangy place has been 

 anointed. 



It will be prudent to give two or three dressings after the horse has been 

 cured apparently, and to continue the alteratives for ten days or a fortnight. 

 The cure being completed, the clothing of the horse should be well soaked 

 in water, to which a fortieth part of the saturated solution of the chloride 

 of lime has been added; after which, it should be washed with soap and 

 water, and again washed and soaked in a solution of the chloride of lime, 

 as before. Every part of the harness should undergo a similar purifica- 

 tion. The currycomb may be scoured, but the brush should be burnt. 

 The rack, and manger, and partitions, and every part of the stable which 

 the horse could possibly have touched, should be well washed with a hair 

 broom, a pint of the chloride of lime being added to three gallons of 

 water. All the wood-work should then be scoured with soap and water, 

 after which a second washing with the chloride of lime and water will 

 render all secure. Some farmers have pulled down their stables when they 

 have been thoroughly infected with mange. This is being unnecessarily 

 cautious. The efficacy of the chloride of lime was not then known: and 

 if il is carefully and sufficiently applied to every part of the stable and its 

 furniture, there cannot afterwards be danger. 



Every case of itchiness of the skin should be regarded with suspicion. 

 When the horse is seen to rub the root of his tail, or his head or neck, 

 against the manger, the parts should be carefully examined. Some of the 

 hair may have been rubbed or torn off, but if the roots remain firmly 

 adherent, and there be only redness and not scurfiness of the skin, it prob. 



