LAMENESS AND MANGE IN CATTLE 347 



Swellings on the hind legs and lameness occur among 

 heavy cows tied in stalls which are not bedded with litter, 

 from injury usually about the hocks, due to pressure and 

 irritation produced by lying on cold bare stones. Enlarged 

 knees from watery accumulations also result from lying on a 

 hard floor, especially if the surface be uneven from projecting 

 points. Remedial treatment of the knee consists in cutting 

 through the skin near the lower edge of the swelling to allow 

 the fluid to drain off, and to get the forefinger in to extract 

 coagulated material, which requires to be removed before 

 normal conditions can be restored. A cow at pasture must 

 be kept in the house for a few days after the operation till 

 the smell of blood goes off, else her neighbours are liable to 

 attack her in obedience to the natural instinct of animals to 

 become excited and kill members of the herd that come by 

 serious injury. A seton dressed with equal parts of tur- 

 pentine and oil passed through the swelling on the knee 

 is often efficacious. A cover of fibre matting or some 

 commoner form of litter is a complete protection for the knees. 

 Cows thrive and milk best when means are taken to prevent 

 them lying on bare floors, which draw heat from the body. 



Mange in Cattle is a parasitic affection due to the 

 presence of one or other of three species of Acari (mites) 

 sarcoptes, psoroptes, and symbiotes. The different forms of 

 mange are consequently named " sarcoptic," " psoroptic," and 

 "symbiotic." Sarcoptic mange is almost unknown in this 

 country, but it was discovered by W. R. Davis, M.R.C.V.S., 

 in 1896 (see Veterinary Journal^ February 1896), and his 

 diagnosis was confirmed by Professor A. Railliet, Alfort 

 Veterinary College, Paris. It is reported to be present on 

 camp cattle in Argentina and on the range cattle of the 

 Canadian North- West, and it forms one of the diseases which 

 the existing restrictions against the importation of live cattle 

 into the United Kingdom have the responsibility of exclud- 

 ing from the herds of the country. The psoroptic and 

 symbiotic forms are common among milch cows, and fre- 

 quently exist together. 



Mange appears mostly about the root of the tail, on the 

 neck and withers, and when neglected, the psoroptic form 

 may become generalised and spread all over the body. 

 Symbiotic mange is of little gravity, and is usually located on 



