Scabies of Fowls. 963 



face of the shell of the ear (Fig. 148). At times the orifice of 

 the ear, as well as the middle ear or the petrous bone is affected 

 with a violent inflammation (Ziirn, authors' observation) and 

 the head is then held obliquely. Exceptionally the inflamma- 

 tion extends to the coverings of the brain. After the develop- 

 ment of these complications the animals die. (Ziirn and Schin- 

 delka also saw sarcoptic scab on the skin of the bridge of the 

 nose.) 



Dermatophagus mites occur only exeeptioiially in the external ear passage of 

 the rabbit, and then together with dermatocoptes mites. 



Treatment. For this the following may be employed : Hel- 

 merich's ointment, formalin paste; according to Gmeiner es- 

 pecially oleum carvi (5% ointment). Reichert made the observa- 

 tion that a third of the body may he treated at one time with 

 12 gm. of cresol liniment (amount for 1 kilogram of body 

 weight) without injurious effects. On the other hand, wash- 

 ings or baths are very badly borne by rabbits. Ear mange may 

 be treated with 5 to 10% creolin or carbolic oil or by painting 

 with glycerinated creolin or carbolic acid ; according to Gmeiner 

 here also oleum carvi (mixed with 10 parts of almond oil) an- 

 swers best. 



Literature. Gmeiner, D. t. W., 1903, 69 (Lit.) ; A. f. Tk., 1906, XXXII, 170 

 (Lit.).— Neumann, Eev. vet., 1892, 141.— Zurn, W. f. Tk., 1874, 277. 



(i) Scabies of Fowls. 



1. Foot Mange. (Foot itch; Gale des pattes [French].) 

 This form of scab is caused by the Knemidocoptes mutans, which 

 mite was formerly generally known as Sarcoptes or Derma- 

 toryctes mutans. 



The Knemidocoptes mutans (Fig. 149) is a little animal that is very similar 

 to the sarcoptes mite, having, when fully developed, four stubby pairs of feet (the 

 clinging disks are rudimentary in the female) and a short conical head; immedi- 

 ately behind the head, on the back, there is a U-shaped chitinous structure, and the 

 dorsal part of the abdomen shows scaly formation. The male is oval, 0.2 to 0.25 cm. 

 long and 0.15 to 0.17 mm. wide, with two long bristles at the hind end; the female 

 more rounded, 0.4 to 0.45 mm. long, 0.35 to 0.38 mm. wide. The mite bores 

 passages into the epidermis. 



Brandl & Gmeiner and Eeichert found that of all remedies investigated against 

 the Knemidocoptes mutans, liquor cresoli saponatus in watery solution had the 

 strongest effect; also chloroform (pure or with 10% of oil), further creolin, 

 bacillol, lysol killed the mites very quickly, as did also etheric oil and Peruvian 

 balsam with oil or alcohol. 



The skin disease caused by this mite occurs mostly in 

 blooded fowls (Cochin China, Brahma, Bantam, Dorking), less 

 often in the native l)reeds, exceptionally in turkeys, pheasants, 

 pigeons and singing birds. Ostertag observed the transmission 

 of the mites to a horse. The development and spread of scab 

 is promoted by crowding of the fowls, although even under these. 



