RINGWORM. S.fa 



and AA^ater, after wlaicli a second wasliing Avith the chloride of lime will 

 render all secure. Some farmers have pulled doAvn their stables, when 

 they have been thoroughly infected AA-ith mange. This is being unneces- 

 sarily cautious. The efficacy of the chloride of lime AA^as not then knoAvn ; 

 but if that is carefully and siafficiently applied to every part of the stable 

 and its furniture, there cannot afterAvards be danger. 



Every case of itchiness of the skin should be regarded Avith suspicion. 

 When a horse is seen to rub the root of his tail, or his head, or neck, 

 against the manger, the parts should be carefully examined. Some of the 

 hair may have been nibbed or torn off, but if the roots remain firmly 

 adherent, and there is only redness and not scurfiness of the skin, it pro- 

 bably is not mange but only inflammation of the skin, fi-om too great 

 fulness of the blood. A little blood should be abstracted — a purgative 

 administered — and the alteratives given. The mange ointment cannot do 

 harm, and may possibly prevent this heat of the skin from degenerating 

 into mange, or arrest the progress of mange if it has commenced. If a 

 scurfiness of skin should appear on any of the points that are pressed 

 upon by the collar or harness, the A^eterinary surgeon aa-III do right to 

 guard against danger by alterati\'e medicine and the use of the ointment. 



RINGWORM. 



This is a highly contagious disease, and affects in a greater or less de- 

 gree most of our domestic animals. Young animals are most susceptible 

 of it, but it is sometimes met Avith in old ones, and is frequently connected 

 Avith a debilitated condition of the system, either the result of disease or 

 poA^erty. The name ringAVorm Avould indicate that this disease Avas pro 

 duced by some animal, but although such is not the case, there is no 

 doubt it is the result of a parasitic vegetable fungus composed of minute 

 oval spores and short curved filaments, Avhich pervades and splits up the 

 roots of the hairs. The disease affects the skin in circular patches vary- 

 ing in size, frequently as large as half a croAvn. The skin is first raised, 

 and, in a fcAv days, the hair comes off, leaAong a bald round space the 

 suiface of Avhich is dry and scaly. They are found in almost all parts of 

 the body, but more especially about the neck and quarters, and if neglected 

 AA'ill increase rapidly and prove a very troublesome disease. The treat- 

 ment should at once consist in removing the animal to a place Avhere there 

 Avould be no liability to his being brought in contact Avith other animals, 

 great care being observed by the attendant in keeping everything con- 

 nected Avith his treatment, aAvay from any other horse. RingAvorm is so 

 contagious in its natui^e that it may be propagated in a variety of Avays, 

 and sometimes baffles our most careful efforts to prevent its extension ; 

 therefore too gTeat caution cannot be observed on the part of those under 

 Avhose care the animal is placed. Great numbers of remedial agents have 

 been employed in the cure of ringAvorm, but none Avill be found simpler 

 or better than the biniodide of mercury made into an ointment in the 

 proportion of half a di'achm of the biniodide to one ounce of lard, a 

 small quantity being Av^ell rubbed on the Avhole surface of the ringAvorm 

 every third day. By this means the parasitic fungus Avill be destroyed, 

 and a gentle stimulating effect produced upon the skin, Avhich Avill hasten 

 the groAvth of the hair. Attention should also be paid to the general 

 health of the animal ; if suffering from debUity, a more generous diet Avill 

 be found the best tonic, and materiallj^ hasten the cure. If, as is some- 

 times the case, the animal affected be in good condition, a dose of physic 

 fuUoAved by alteratives may be necessary. 



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