DISEASKS OF THE SKIN. 469 



BLEEDING SKIN ERUPTIONS, OR DERMATORRHAGIA PARASITICA. 



In China, Himgaiy, Spain, and otlicr countries horses frequently 

 sutler from the presence of a tlireachvorni {Fllaria lukmorrluKjlca 

 Ivailliet. F. niulti papilloma Condainine and Drouilly) in the sub- 

 cutaneous connective tissue, causing effusions of blood under 

 the scurf skin and incrustations of dried blood on the surface. 

 The eruptions, which appear mainly on the sides of the trunk, but 

 may cover any part of the body, are rounded elevations about the 

 size of a small i)ea. containing blood Avhich bursts through the scurf 

 skin and concretes like a reddish scab around the erect, rigid hairs. 

 These swellings appear in groups, which remain out for several days, 

 gradually diminishing in size; new^ groups appear after an interval 

 of three or four weeks, the manifestation being confined to three or 

 four months of spring and disappearing in winter. A horse will 

 suffer for several yeai-s in succession and then permanently recover. 

 A fatal issue is not miknown. To find the worm the hair is shaved 

 from the part where the elevations are felt, and as soon as a bleeding 

 point is shown the superiicial layer is laid open with the knife, when 

 the parasite will be seen drawing itself back into the parts beneath. 

 The worm is about 2 inches long and like a stout thread, thicker 

 toward the head than toward the tail, and Avith nuuierous little 

 conical elevations (papilhe) around the head. The young worms 

 are numerous in the body of the adult female worm. The worm has 

 become cojimion in given localities, and probably enters the system 

 with feed or water. 



Treatment is not satisfactory, but the affected surface should be 

 kept clean by sponging, and the pressure of harness on any affected 

 part must be avoided. Thus rest nuiy become essential. The part 

 may be fi-equently washed with a strong solution <if potassiuni sul- 

 phid. 



SUMMER SORES FROM FILARIA IRRITANS. 



Tlie summer sores of horses (dermatitis granulosa, boils) have 

 been tiacetl to the presence in the skin of another ]>arasite, '^ milli- 

 meters in length and extremely attenuated (I'/Iarid irrifans Kailliet). 

 The sores may be seen as small as a millet seed, but more frequently 

 the size of a pea, and may become an inch in diameter. They may 

 ai)pear on any point, but are es]>ecially objioxious where the har- 

 ness presses or on the lower parts of the limbs. They cause intense 

 and insupportable itching, and the victiuj rubs aiul i)ites the part 

 until extensive raw surfaces are produced. Aside from such friction 

 the sore is covered by a brownish-red, soft," pulpy material with 

 cracks or furrows filled with serous pus. In the midst of the softened 

 mass are small, hrm. rounded graiudations. fibrinous. an<l even 

 caseated. and when the soft, pultaceous material has been scraped 



