MANGE.] 



THE HORSE, AND 



[maxgs. 



instantly conveys to the spectator a very strong ] 

 idea of wretchedness and poverty. Nothing, 

 indeed, can convey this stronger than seeing 

 nature exhausted, and sinking under a com- 

 plication of disease, debility, and poverty. 



This disease, however, is very little seen 

 amongst horses of any estimation ; on the 

 contrary, it is almost entirely confined to the 

 lowest stables, and the lowest proprietors. It 

 is observed to fall chiefly upon those that 

 are ill-fed, or scarcely know what corn is, at 

 least, by tlie taste, but are kept entirely on 

 the refuse of provender, barren pastures, musty 

 hay, separated hay-bands, swampy mossy 

 ground— so poor, that it yields the smallest 

 portion of nourishment. From such feeding, 

 nature may support a wretched existence, but 

 cannot be furnished with such sustenance as 

 is necessary to the maintenance of the frame 

 of the horse in a healthy state. From this 

 mode of living — rather starving — originates 

 the severe and inveterate disease known as 

 the mange ; and where it has been allowed to 

 commit its ravages to a considerable extent, it 

 is in the last degree painful to contemplate 

 the poor animal that is suffering from it. It 

 is a pimpled vesicular corruption, and is in the 

 highest degree contagious. " Among the truly 

 healthy, so far as my experience goes," says 

 Mr. Blaine, " it never arises spontaneously ; 

 but it does readily from a spontaneous origin 

 among the unhealthy." 



It is by low feeding that the mange is often 

 generated, when the blood becomes thin and 

 weak, and loses a considerable portion of its 

 vital principle. Thus extravasated and unre- 

 strained, its morbid efiects and virulence soon 

 display themselves upon the surface, with a 

 severe and constant irritation and itching, prin- 

 cipally about the neck, and under the hair of 

 the mane ; though all parts of the animal are 

 subject to it, occasioning him to be constantly 

 rubbing himself, till with this and the loss of 

 hair from different parts, he bears the uni- 

 versal appearance of approaching excoriation. 

 Many persons of the old school are in the 

 habit of applying powerful caustic applications, 

 which may have the desired effect ultimately ; 

 but the pain the poor dejected brute under- 

 goes beneath such treatment, suggests to 

 humanity that immediate death would be 

 much more merciful. 

 188 



The mange itself is found in the existence 

 of a parasite burrowing in the skin, known as 

 the Acarus scahiei equo, which bears a strict 

 analogy to the parasite which produces tlie 

 same disease in the dog, and the itch in man. 

 It belongs to the family of mites, and is found 

 in all kinds of preserved animal and vegetable 

 substances. It has eight legs, and has an 

 uncommon power of tenacity in adhering to 

 the skin. 



In treating for the mange, commence to 

 feed, night and morning, with half iran and 

 half malt, or with equal parts of oats and hran. 

 It is preferable to have the malt made slightly 

 wet, not sloppy. Sprinkle a handful of coarse 

 hrown sugar in it ; then mix all together, and 

 give morning and night. Eor the middle- day 

 feed, give a quartern of sweet oats, with a 

 handful or two of chaff. During this treat- 

 ment, which must be continued for at least a 

 week, when it will begin to soften his skin, 

 give the best and sweetest hay that can be 

 procured. 



At the expiration of a week, when the 

 frame becomes more invigorated, discontinue 

 the mashes, and let the diet be changed to 

 good oats, with a handful of bran night and 

 morning, first sprinkled with water, that one 

 of the following powders may just adhere 

 to it : — 



Sulphur • . . 1 lb. 



Prepared Antimony 1 do. 



Eub these well together in a mortar, and 

 divide into twenty-four equal parts. For the 

 middle-day feed, continue the oats and chaflf, 

 dry. External applications may now be begun. 

 Eor these, procure a pail of warm water, and a 

 quarter or half a pound of soft soap, or more 

 if required, and tie a portion of it in a linen 

 or woollen rag. Let every infected part be 

 thoroughly washed, and well cleansed with 

 this, by forming a substantial lather, till no 

 scurf or filth remains on the surface. Then 

 rub tenderly with a linen towel until dry, and, 

 on the following morning, begin to rub in a 

 necessary portion of the following ointment 

 upon every part affected, as the urgency of 

 symptoms may require ; and repeat daily until 

 satisfied of the cure : — 



Mercurial Ointment (weak) . . . . 8 oz. 



White Hellebore, powdered ... 3 do. 



Olive oil, sufficf-^nt to make it soft. 



