706 DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



animal becomes one mass of scabs, underrun with purulent 

 matter, emitting a most loathsome smell, and presenting such 

 evident signs of distress, emaciation, and debility, as to call for 

 the immediate destruction of the sufferer. 



Symptoms. — Great itchiness of the skin, more especially when 

 the animal is warm, or at night ; a peculiar scaliness and under- 

 mined state of the epidermis ; and the presence of the acarus. 



TREATMENT OF SCABIES. 



True mange being a contagious disease, it is essential that 

 all animals suffering from it should be isolated, and everything 

 with which they may have come in contact purified. Thus, 

 with horses the clothing is to be boiled in a solution of soap 

 and carbolic acid ; and the harness, saddle, and grooming 

 utensils washed with soap and warm water, and dressed with a 

 solution of arsenic or corrosive sublimate, in the proportion of 

 ten grains to the ounce of water. After being so washed and 

 dressed, they are to be kept for several days exposed to dry 

 air, washed again with soap and water before they are used ; 

 and before they are again put on the horse, they should be 

 sprinkled on the side next to the horse's skin with sulphur. 

 These may seem useless precautions, but in many cases the 

 harness and clothing are lined with thick scabs, containing the 

 ova of the parasites, the vitality of which is so great as almost 

 to defy all efforts to destroy it. 



Pastures in which scabby sheep have been grazing should be 

 kept empty for some weeks ; all posts and other rubbing-places 

 should be examined, and purified with carbolised whitewash, 

 and all adhering portions of wool carefully removed and burnt. 



Scabies being a local disease, is curable by topical remedies, 

 and it may always be got rid of by frictions with the sunple 

 sulphur ointment. For horses, dogs, cattle, and cats, this alone is 

 generally sufficient, provided it be properly applied, and no part 

 affected with the disease left untouched with the remedy. The 

 sulphuret of calcium is also highly recommended for diffuse 

 mange, where it would be improper to cover a large extent of 

 skin with an impermeable coating. It is made as follows : — 

 2 lbs. of sulphur, 1 lb. of quicklime, and 16 lbs. of water. 

 These are to be boiled together, and continually stirred untO. the 

 infrredients are combined. 



