214 POULTRY LOUSINESS IN THE HOESE. 



movements the burning itching by which he is devoured. 

 At night his torments increase ; so much so, that should the 

 animal be abandoned to himself, he rubs and bites himself 

 to that degree that he tears his skin, and carries portions 

 away in his mouth, denuding himself extensively of his scarf 

 skin ; nor does he relax until smarting pains succeed the in- 

 supportable torments of the itching. 



" At the time these symptoms of prurience are making their 

 appearance, the skin is the seat of an eruption of very small 

 vesicles; some solitary others, in greater number, congre- 

 gate, occupying more or less extent of surface. These vesicles 

 contain, at the period of their maturity, scarcely serosity 

 enough to raise the epidermis, which becomes detached, 

 dragging the hairs with it that run across, leaving behind it 

 a small bare surface, perfectly circular, of the diameter of a 

 lentil, or the smallest silver coin. This bare part be- 

 comes covered with a crust of dried serosity, which soon 

 exfoliates, and is replaced by a new epidermis, perfectly smooth 



" This primary stage of the disease is difficult to meet with, 

 because, ordinarily, horses are not submitted to examination 

 before depilation has commenced, the sequel of the dessica- 

 tion of the vesicles. 



" At the second stage of the poultry lousiness, the most 

 pathognomonic lesion is the depilation consecutive on the 

 vesicular eruption ; and this is so characteristic, that, once the 

 disease is observed in its true form, and traced to its cause, 

 a simple coup d'ceil is all that is necessary to recognise and 

 distinguish it from all other cutaneous affections. 



" The depilation is of that remarkable character that it re- 

 flects exactly, in the general impression it makes upon the skin, 

 the form of the vesicular eruption, solitary or confluent, of 

 which it is the latest vestige. In fact, the surface is marked 

 by regular circular patches, of the diameter of a lentil, giv- 



