DISEASES OF CATTLE 373 



as pastures for at least one year. The land should be thoroughly 

 drained, and it would be well to liberally apply air-slaked lime to 

 accelerate drying. If in hook-worm infested lots the droppings 

 are gathered every day, it will decrease the infestation. 



Plowing, undoubtedly, also reduces the dangers of infestation, 

 as heavily infested material buried 3 inches in loose, pulverulent, 

 moist soil in the laboratory showed that a littlb over one-third as 

 many Iarva3 ascended on the glass wall of the breeding jar as in the 

 jar used as a check where an equal amount of material from the 

 same droppings was left on the surface of the moist soil. 



It is recommended that on hook-worm infested farms annual 

 crop rotation be practiced as far as possible. The manure should 

 be removed from stables occupied by infested animals daily and 

 air-slaked lime used liberally to dry up the floors. The greatest 

 precaution should be exercised to prevent the spread of this parasite 

 into localities where it does not yet occur, either by shipments of 

 infested cattle or otherwise. 



Where it is desirable to eradicate this pest from a lot previous 

 to putting in animals that are not infested, it may be accomplished 

 by burning. For this purpose one should have a good substantial 

 spray pump fitted with hose, extension rod, and a fine nozzle. 

 Either kerosene or gas oil may be used. After the pump is filled 

 and set in operation the spray is ignited near the nozzle. The 

 present price of kerosene, however, would make this operation too 

 expensive over large areas. 



MANGE, ITCH, SCAB OF CATTLE. 



SCABIES. 



Scabies of cattle is also known as range itch, cattle itch, and 

 cattle mange; the last is the correct name, the disease being mange, 

 or scabies. This disease has prevailed to a considerable extent among 

 the range cattle of the West and Northwest, and has been heard of 

 in other portions of the country. 



Cause of Scabies, or Mange. Scabies, or mange, of the ox is a 

 contagious disease caused by a parasitic mite. Cattle are chiefly af- 

 fected with but two varieties of these parasites, or miles, which belong 

 to the class Arachnoidea. These are, first, the Psoroptes; second, the 

 Symbiotes. The first is the one which most frequently affects them. 

 It lives on the surface of the skin and by its biting gives rise to great 

 irritation and itching. It is most frequent upon the sides of the 

 neck and shoulders, at the base of the horns, and at the root of the 

 tail. From these points it spreads to the back and sides, and may 

 invade nearly the entire body. Its principal manifestations are more 

 or less numerous pimples, exudation, and abundant scaling off of the 

 skin, falling out of the hair, and the formation of dry, gray-brownish 

 scabs. In the course of time the skin becomes thickened, stiff, 

 wrinkled, and acquires the consistence of leather. When mange has 

 spread over a large surface of the body, the animals lose flesh and 

 become weak and anemic, rendering them constitutionally less able 

 to withstand or combat the effects of the mites. At the same time 



