PECULIAR TO HORSES. 69 



is the seat of the parasite, and his burrowing course can be distinctly 

 traced from one vesicle to another. 



The parasites, which are said to be the sum and substance of the 

 disease, are termed "Acari," and their " manibles," — or mouth — are 

 a sort of pincers, pointed and shai-p, which enables them to puncture 

 the common integument, or skin of animals, and at the same time to 

 imbibe the animal juices, on which they thrive and propagate. 



The remedy, or local application, previously recommended, often 

 fails in curing "Itch, or Mange," simply because it is not rubbed on 

 the surface with sufRcient force to penetrate the scarf-skin; hence, it 

 has but little, if any, effect on the concealed parasite. In order to 

 obviate this difficulty, all excrementitious matter must be removed 

 from the skin by means of a good stiff brush, which brush must never 

 be used on any other animal. 



The modern method of applying the local application is to rub it 

 into the skin by means of a thick pair of leather gloves, and some 

 " elbow grease." The rubbing should be repeated daily until the 

 disease is conquered. Supposing the disease to be " stubborn" and 

 protracted, the external application must be rubbed into the skin by 

 means of a stiff brush, and the animal should be daily dosed with 

 the following : 



Sublimated Sulphur 1 drachm. 



Iodide of Potass 20 grains. 



Powdered Poplar Bark 1 drachm. 



To be incorporated with the food. 



PITYPJASIS IN ARMY HORSES. 



I was present at a sale of army and contraband horses lately held 

 in St. Louis, and I noticed that many of them were the subjects of a 

 skin disease known to the members of our profession as '■^ Pityriasis^'''' 

 which disease chiefly affected the face, neck, sides of the chest, and 

 flank. 



The disease presented circumscribed patches, more or less denuded 

 of hair ; the epidermis, or external covering of the skin, detached 

 itself from the sub-tissue in white flakes, yet there appeared to be 

 no itching sensation nor impairment of the general health, conse- 

 quently I am led to infer that the disease is not contagious. By fric- 

 tion with linseed oil and lime water, equal parts, a cure is easily 

 effected. 



BOTS IN HORSES. 



Bots occur chiefly among horses that have been recently at grass. 

 They are generated from the larvae of the oestrus equi • the larvfe are 

 deposited on the legs and shoulders, or parts that the horse is apt to 

 lick with his tongue ; they then pass into the stomach and become 

 attached to the cutieular portion of the same. In the succeeding 

 summer they are discharged from the anus, and passing through the 



