374 CHAPTER 51. 



legs on return from work, should be strictly forbidden. The mud should 

 be allowed to dry on the legs and subsequently washed off. 



That these ideas are erroneous is proved by the fact that the disease is 

 almost unknown amongst cavalry troop horses, and hunters whose legs 

 are undipped, and where the system of washing is not allowed. The 

 causes of mud fever may be said to be from washing and insufficiently 

 drying the legs, especially in cases where warm water is used ; the circu- 

 lation, which has been excited by the warm water becomes suddenly 

 checked by the effects of the cold air, the vessels become congested, and 

 superficial inflammation follows. One of the principal predisposing causes 

 of this affection is the system of clipping hunters' legs, whereby the skin 

 is more liable to become affected by any external irritating influences. 



The reader is referred to paragraphs 116 to 120, also 177 on this sub- 

 ject in the Chapter on Stable Management. 



The prominent symptoms of mud fever are swelling of the limbs, heat, 

 and tenderness of the skin, more or less lameness the result of irritation 

 and occasional constitutional disturbance. An eruption of vesicles occurs 

 in patches on the legs, and along the surface of the abdomen, and after a 

 time the hair falls off, and frequently desquamation of the cuticle also 

 takes place to a considerable extent. These symptoms are accompanied 

 by a staring coat and general falling off in condition. 



The treatment of mud fever consists in placing the patient in a cool, 

 well-ventilated box, and by administering a mild dose of aperient medi- 

 cine. The diet should be laxative in character with green food or carrots. 

 The skin of the affected parts should be well washed and carefully dried 

 with soft flannels, and may then be dressed daily with a liniment com- 

 posed of equal parts of lime water and linseed oil well shaken together. 

 Or a dressing of one ounce of liquor plumbi subacetatis to half a pint of 

 olive oil may be applied. This treatment, with good stable management, 

 walking exercise, and gradually increasing the oat ration, will generally 

 be found sufficient in ordinary cases. 



CHAPTER 51. 

 MANGE. 



768. Nature of Mange. .769. Mange, a sure sign of neglect or mis- 

 management. 770. Mange, not contagious among healthy well groomed 

 horses. 771. Signs of Mange. 772. Treatment. 773. Clothing need not 

 be destroyed. 774. Itchiness of the skin. 774a. Lice. 7746. Treatment. 



768. Nature of Mange. 



The disease known as Scabies, or Mange, results directly from the 

 attack of a parasitical insect which burrows beneath the epidermis or 



