I 



RINGWORM IN THE SHEEP, GOAT, AND PIG. 653 



may be dangerous. Owing to their bare condition the animals easily 

 catch cold, while the epidermic proliferation is very great, and makes 

 great demands on the animal's bodily powers. Under such circum- 

 stances it is better to slaughter early. 



Spontaneous recovery from small lesions may occur in two or 

 three months. 



Treatment. The patients should be isolated, and any brushes, 

 combs, etc., with which they have been in contact must be dis- 

 infected. 



The diseased areas should then be dressed with some fatty sub- 

 stance, to soften the crusts and enable them to be removed without 

 injury. 



Dressings are useless unless these crusts have been removed, for 

 the spores are always in the deepest recesses and in the follicles, so 

 that the drugs employed never come in contact with them. 



Once the skin is cleansed, numerous chemical substances may be 

 utilised, the solutions being applied for several days in succession. 

 Amongst them may be mentioned tincture of iodine, oil of cade, 

 10 per cent, solution of sulphate of iron, and solution of perchloride 

 of iron. Such drugs, however, must not be used for a long time, as 

 they all attack the skin to some extent. 



When the patches are small and well defined the following mixture 

 proves very efficacious : — 



Crystallised carbolic acid . . . . . . . . \ 



Tincture of iodine . . . . . . . . . . > Equal parts. 



Chlorale hydrate . . . . . . . . . . / 



Two or three applications generally j)rove successful. 



Despite the natural activity of the spores, w^hich are capable of 

 germination after three months' desiccation, some medicines are use- 

 ful, although it is necessary, in order to judge of their effects, to 

 wait for the renewal of the skin, hair follicles, and hair. 



Where the disease is generalised this form of treatment is scarcely 

 practicable, .or at least it becomes more difficult. 



Nevertheless, by dressing with soft soap the disease may be cured 

 in a few months. The soap should remain on the skin for some 

 hours and then be washed off, after w^hich dressings of creolin, lysol, 

 or chloral solution, etc., should be employed. 



RINGWORM IN THE SHEEP, GOAT, AND PIG. 



Little information regarding the dermatomycoses of the sheep, goat, 

 and pig is available. Allowing for modifications due to the nature 



