Common Diseases of the Horse 223 



pleasure is shown by the animal moving the upper lip, or champing 

 the jaws and leaning towards the person in attendance. If the 

 irritated parts are examined, a moist scab, or dandruff" matted 

 together, will be seen. The extent of the disease varies, but if 

 untreated, the patient will lose flesh, and in time nearly all its 

 hair will come off", the skin ultimately becoming practically a mass 

 of sores. As soon as an animal is noticed showing the above 

 symptoms it should be isolated, all its harness, brushes, rugs, &c., 

 soaked in disinfectant, and the lately occupied stall scrubbed, dis- 

 infected, and whitewashed. It would be useless to describe the 

 treatment, as the law practically lays it down that this has to 

 be done by a veterinary surgeon. All things considered this is 

 to the owner's advantage. This form is very difficult; and there 

 is a great liability to recurrence. 



Psoroptic Mange 



This is the common form; it occurs on the upper parts of 

 the body, and usually commences on the neck, withers, or croup. 

 In some cases the diseased area remains localized, closely re- 

 sembling ringworm. There is a heaping up of dandruff", and so 

 a round patch of hair sticks up. In a few rare instances a horse 

 may be apparently all right overnight, and next morning be found 

 with large patches of hair gone, the skin sore, and the animal very 

 irritable. In the most usual type of the disease small spots appear 

 to lose the hair and dandruff" appears. This goes on until large 

 areas are affected. In other respects the symptoms are the same 

 as those described under sarcoptic mange, save perhaps that the 

 initial irritation is a little more intense. The same remarks apply 

 to the notification and treatment, but this form is somewhat easier 

 to stamp out. It is a disease of winter and long coats, and in thick- 

 skinned and dull animals may only be noticed after clipping. 



Chorioptic, Symbiotic, or Leg Mange 



This form chiefly aff"ects heavy horses, and is most often seen 

 on the hind limbs. It may, however, aff"ect the fore limbs. Usually, 

 the parts attacked are not much above the hocks and knees, but 

 the parasite is sometimes found on the brisket and under the thighs. 

 Bare patches appear, which then become covered with scales, and 

 later, the parts from licking may appear raw. Horses with leg 

 itch stamp violently, and are liable to injure their limbs. The 

 best treatment to adopt is to give the legs a good washing with 

 hot water, soap, and soda. This removes the dirt and scales, and 



