MANGE. 377 



773. Clothing need not le destroyed. 



Thorp is no need to destroy the clothing of horses affected with Mange. 

 It is sufficient to bake or boil, it thoroughly. 



Servant's clothing 1 should be baked or boiled if it will not be so spoiled. 



774. Itchiness of the skin. 



Horses, especially in hot countries, are frequently subject to itchiness 

 of the skin. The symptoms very closely resemble those of Mange. The 

 head, neck, and shoulders are mostly affected. From the intense itching 

 the animal will often rub off large patches of hair. 



The local treatment consists in shaving off the hair, and dressing the 

 skin with equal parts of mercurial ointment and soft soap made into a 

 lather with hot water and applied by means of an old brush. The new 

 hair will grow rapidly after this application. 



Change of diet and laxative food will also be needed for a time. Boiled 

 linseed is very beneficial. Horses, which are kept on barley, are very 

 liable to this affection. 



In some horses the skin is so exceedingly irritable (without any positive 

 disease) that the animal cannot bear the friction of the ordinary saddle 

 lined with flannel on his back. A linen cloth carefully and smoothly laid 

 under the saddle will often in such cases give relief. 



Other horses are affected with a skin disease, resembling mange, but 

 not produced by the attacks of parasitical insects, about the head and face 

 or under the brow band. The mercurial ointment recommended above 

 will generally effect a cure. 



774a. Lice. 



There are many varieties of Lice, but only two which need mention as 

 regards horses, viz. : 1st, the common house louse ; and 2nd, the poultry 

 louse. 



The first-named usually attack old and ill-fed horses ; and also not 

 uncommonly young at grass. 



The second sort, the poultry louse, attack horses in fair condition, and 

 generally select the best fed. 



In both cases the ravages of the parasite produce the same effects, viz. 

 extreme itchiness, accompanied by an eruption of vesicles. 



7746. Treatment. 



The horse's coat should be removed by clipping, and the skin should 

 then be well washed, and the liniment recommended for Mange or any of 

 the parasiticides should be applied. One dressing probably will be suffi- 

 cient. In all cases the stable must be thoroughly cleansed and white- 

 washed. 



The cause overfeeding in the one case, or want of feeding in the 

 other- must be guarded against. 



