320 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the autopsy to be sure whether they were suffering from this 

 parasite or not. It was not very clear at first what tlie ani- 

 mals died of, but it may possibly have been partly due to 

 change of food and climate. 



Some people seem to have become imbued with the idea, 

 from reading about the Angora goat, that it will thrive 

 without any care and upon any kind of food. In reality, it 

 is doubtful if any species of domestic animal will thrive if 

 neglected or improperl}^ fed ; and if any one hopes to make 

 a success of the goat industry, he should take the same care 

 of and feel the same interest in the goats that he would 

 in any other live stock. 



Mange among Horses. 



Mange in horses has been more common during the past 

 year than heretofore. Cases have occurred in North Attle- 

 borough, Grafton, Milford and Chelmsford. It would seem, 

 therefore, to be more widely spread than at the time of the 

 report made a year ago. 



An animal slightly affected and in good condition readily 

 yields to treatment. The parasite can be killed with prepa- 

 rations of lard and sulphur, or kerosene emulsion, or a solu- 

 tion of sulpho-naphthol and water. Old horses having the 

 disease and neglected by the owners become so run down as 

 to be practically worthless. One reported in Grafton died, 

 and the one in Chelmsford was sent by the owner to the 

 rendering Avorks to be killed. 



Stalls where horses with mange have been kept should be 

 disinfected, and harnesses and utensils should also be 

 cleansed and disinfected when an animal with mange is 

 killed and replaced by a healthy horse. 



Contagious Ophthalmia. 



During the summer there was an outbreak of a form of 

 contagious ophthalmia among neat cattle. The first cases 

 were reported from Westborough ; it also occurred in ad- 

 joining towns, and later a herd was reported as affected in 

 Needham. 



'iliis disease was first described as Jceratifis contagiosa by 



