672 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



furrows, they run over the surface, and the females among 

 them soon begin to tunnel like their mothers before them. 

 The itching occasioned by these parasites is intolerable. 

 Around the furrows made by them there forms, first, small 

 pimples, which soon change to vesicles and pustules, that 

 discharge a bloody matter, which dries into thick crusts. 

 These practically close up the furrows, but the itching 

 causes the sufferer to scratch, and the coverings are torn 

 off by the nails and the young insects set free. 



Treatment is really the most effective means of diagnosis 

 for the non-professional, unaccustomed to the use of the 

 microscope, by which alone can all doubts be dispelled. 

 Fortunately, the one popular application for all skin 

 diseases of dogs is sulphur and lard, and this, when prop- 

 erly-applied, will destroy the insect which causes sarcoptic 

 mange. Without knowing just its action, almost every dog- 

 owner is familiar with this remedy, and when his pet "gets 

 to scratching," and the skin is torn in consequence, he uses 

 the sulphur first of all remedies. He may not cure the dog 

 of the eruption, but very often if the mange insect is present 

 he destroys that, and simply a case of eczema is left. Owing 

 to the popularity of this treatment, there is much less 

 sarcoptic mange than there otherwise would be, and where 

 it breaks out it is usually soon combated. Sulphur, when 

 rightly used, is harmless. In making it into an ointment 

 the proportions should be about one tea-spoonful of sulphur 

 to a table-spoonful of lard. This can be best mixed with a 

 case-knife on a plate, by a process of kneading. Before 

 applying the ointment it is always well to give the dog a 

 warm bath. Excepting in the hottest weather, of course, he 

 must remain in a warm room for several hours afterward. In 

 fact, while under treatment it would be well to keep the 

 patient in warm quarters. If the skin is very "raw," the 

 rubbing in the bath and subsequently must be very gentle, 

 otherwise the skin will be much inflamed. A bath of ten 

 or fifteen minutes will suffice to soften the skin; soap may 

 be used to secure cleanliness. After the dog has been dried 

 by the gentle use of towels, the ointment should be thor- 



