620 DISEASES OF SWINE 



sides of the chest, over the loins, and on the outer side of the hams. 

 The disease appears as scattered, rounded, and reddish spots about 

 the size of a quarter dollar or larger. The margin of the spot is red 

 and elevated, giving it a somewhat ring-like appearance. The 

 center of the spot is apparently almost normal in color and appear- 

 ance. The red elevated margin is often covered with small vesicles, 

 and these later on break and cause the formation of a crust. In 

 some cases the bristles or hair over the affected parts fall out. 

 This is rare in the hog, however, as compared with the horse and 

 other animals. 



Treatment. — Perhaps the most efficient means of treating ring- 

 worm is the daily application of formalin (a 40 per cent, solution of 

 formaldehyd in water) to the lesions. This can be applied with a 

 feather or a small brush, and is reported to be most successful in 

 causing disappearance of the eruption. 



Where hard crusts and scabs are formed they should first be 

 removed by means of soap and water or oils and the treatment then 

 applied. There are a number of other preparations which may be 

 used in the treatment of this condition. Calomel ointment or 

 mercury ointment are both commonly used. Ointments contain- 

 ing salicylic acid, tar, balsam of Peru, and naphthol are favorably 

 reDorted by a number of practitioners. 



MANGE (HOG ITCH) 



This is a condition not uncommon in hogs in which the skin is 

 infested by large numbers of scab mites. These mites, by burrow- 

 ing under the skin, produce a severe irritation, and the disease is 

 accompanied by the formation of thick masses of scales or scabs, 

 from which the disease derives its common name of ''scabies." 



Causes for the disease are filthy, dirty pens which favor the 

 breeding of the scab mites. Run-down, poorly nourished animals 

 are also commonly attacked by mange. In animals with chronic 

 indigestion or chronic hog-cholera mange is a not infrequent com- 

 plication. Mange is more common in pigs than in the adult ani- 

 mals. Mange as well as other skin diseases is more common in 

 white hogs than in those with colored hair. 



Symptoms. — The disease begins with a severe itching of the 

 affected portions of the body. Mange lesions are more commonly 



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