190 PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SCABIES. 



Gerlach considers creosote the most active and useful agent 

 in cases of scabies in animals with short hair over the body, 

 and decoction of tobacco for the woollen tribe. In the 

 treatment of this disease, however, the chief thing to consider 

 is, that the remedy destroying the parasites should not kill 

 our patients, and that it should be applied in the proper 

 manner. He alludes to the extensive use made of arsenic, 

 and the attempts made, by combining it in baths with sul- 

 phate of iron or alum, to guard against its poisonous effects, 

 but he thinks it can be well dispensed with in treating the 

 disease under consideration. Tobacco decoction, if strongly 

 concentrated, such as one part to five or one part to ten, may 

 poison our domestic quadrupeds, especially the ox, but a more 

 dilute preparation is effectual as an application for the skin, 

 and not dangerous. A dog or sheep may be immersed for 

 five or ten minutes, in a decoction formed by one part of 

 tobacco to twenty-five or thirty of water, without giving 

 signs of disturbance. Tobacco alone would therefore super- 

 sede arsenic. 



In treating mange in the horse and ox, Gevlach insists on 

 the importance of covering the body with soft soap, washing 

 it off some time afterwards with warm water, and having the 

 animal well brushed ; or, a wash may be used consisting of 

 one part of caustic potash to 50 parts of water ; or, lastly, 

 the animal may be greased with linseed oil, train oil, &c., and, 

 one or two days afterwards, washing with soap and water or 

 potash ley. He then recommends, if necessary, a dressing 

 with considerable friction, using creosote water according to 

 the following prescription : 



ft Creosoti . . . gjss. 

 . Sp. vini rect. . . J xv. 

 Aquae font. . . . J *L-% x ^ v - 



