PREVENTION AND FIRST AID TREATMENT OF DISEASE. 317 



very easily spread and often cured with difficulty. In the horse and 

 mule there are two troublesome forms — 



(i) the dry, produced by insects which live beneath the skin. 



(2) the moist, in which they are found on the surface of the skin. 



Sympto))is. — In both cases the common situations for the disease to Syinp- 

 be first noticed are on the head, withers and back, and sometimes, but'toms. 

 less frequently, the quarters. In the dry form small pimples may be 

 felt about as big as a pin's head, and from these the hair falls, leaving 

 a small pea-sized bald spot. In the wet form a moist, rapidly-increasing 

 patch will be seen from which the hair falls, and in both cases there 

 is severe itching. If the place be gently scratched the animal will smack or 

 nibble with his lips and lean or rub against the hand ; when being groomed 

 they will lean heavily against the brush, and when loose they will scrub 

 against anything rough with such violence as to make the skin bleed. 



hi the camel. — The parts first attacked are those where the hair is In the 

 thin or which are in contact with the ground when the animal sits camel, 

 down ; the insides of the legs, lower part of the body, neck and sides. 

 The animal rubs its legs together or scrapes itself against trees ; the 

 appearance of the diseased patches is much the same as described above, 

 and later the skin becomes thickened and scurfy. 



Ill the bullock the disease may be usually first noticed round the In the 

 root of the tail, but may also be found on the body, the symptoms bullock, 

 being identical with those previously described, but not usually so acute. 



The disease is of great importance on service owing to the loss of 

 working power or even mortality which it causes. When well fed, 

 groomed, and clothed it may not be so marked in its effects, but when 

 work is hard and food scanty, animals rapidly waste and die from the 

 constant irritation. 



Treatme7it. — Segregation and strict disinfection, clip off the hair and Treat- 

 burn it and dress the case thoroughly, and, if possible, all over with '"ent. 

 the following mixture : Paraffin oil i pint, soap i lb., water i gallon. 

 There are many other dressings, but this is useful and can always be 

 got. Taramera oil may be also used with effect, especially on the 

 camel, and should be rubbed in freely. Keep the dressing on for several 

 days and rub it in lightly daily with the hand. Then wash well with 

 soap and water, and keep under observation for at least three weeks. 

 Keep the animal well fed, but clothing, except in the case of isolated 

 cases in private horses, should be withdrawn from any unit in which the 

 disease exists till the outbreak is over, as it is one of the main sources of 

 contagion. All gear, blankets, «&c., should be soaked in a disinfectant 

 before being used again. Daily inspections of all animals of a unit which 



