148 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Disinfect stable, troughs, picketlmes, fences,'equipments, blankets, 

 grooming utensils, clothing of attendants, etc. 



448. Ringworm^ (herpes). — A contagious disease of the skin 

 characterized by falling out of the hair in circular isolated patches. 



Causes. — A vegetable parasite. 



_ Symptoms. — Falling out of the hair in circular patches about the 



size of a 25-cent piece, after which there remains an elevated, scaly 



eruption. The parts usually affected are the head, neck, shoulders, 



back, flank, croup, and sometimes the belly. Itching is not marked. 



Treatment. — Isolate the patient. Cut away the hair from the dis- 

 eased area; soften the scaly eruptions with a mixture of creolin 

 (one-half ounce) and olive oil (10 ounces) which leave on for two 

 days, then wash well with warm water and soap, and remove the 

 soft scabs. Follow this with daily applications of tincture of iodine. 

 Should the eruptions be numerous, creolin baths may be used. 

 From two to three months are often required to bring about the cure. 



Disinfect stall, equipment, and grooming utensils. 



449. Ticks. — Ticks are small animal parasites which live on 

 bushes and attach themselves to the skin of animals only for the pur- 

 pose of sucking their blood. When filled they drop off and fall to the 

 ground. 



Treatment. — They are easily destroyed by the application of oil or 

 grease which kills them by stopping up their breathing pores. If 

 pulled off by the hand a part of the body sometimes breaks off and 

 remains in the skin, often causing sores and abscesses. 



460. Warbles (grubs). — Tumors on the backs of horses produced 

 by the undeveloped form of the warble or gadfly. Common in the 

 Southwestern States. 



Symptoms. — The parasite lives under the skin of the back, where 

 it forms a-n abscess about the size of a hazelnut or larger, and sucks 

 nourishment from the surrounding tissues. 



Treatment. — Make a very small opening in the abscess and squeeze 

 out the parasite with the fingers. Treat the remaining wound with 

 an antiseptic. 



