SOME SKIN AFFECTIONS 197 



Mange 



This is a very common skin disease and, since the war, 

 it has been much more prevalent than formerly. There 

 are several varieties of mange, but they are all parasitic, 

 being due to minute acari invading either the superficial 

 or deeper portions of the skin. These different forms of 

 mange are known as psor optic, sar Coptic, and symbiotic ; 

 all of which have been very common amongst army 

 horses and not uncommon in civilian stables. For 

 some years a vigorous campaign has been carried on 

 against mange in order to diminish its prevalence, and 

 local authorities throughout the British Isles have adopted 

 such legislative measures as seemed expedient under the 

 circumstances. In exceptional instances a fourth variety 

 of mange, namely folHcular, affects the horse, but it is not 

 of sufficient clinical importance to do anything more 

 than mention its existence. Sarcoptic and psoroptic 

 mange are both scheduled diseases, and if the owner has 

 reason to suspect the existence of mange amongst his 

 horses, the matter must be immediately reported to the 

 nearest local authority. 



Sarcoptic mange is more troublesome to treat than the 

 psoroptic, for the simple reason that the sarcoptic acari 

 take up their abode in the skin less superficially than the 

 psoroptic parasites. Sarcoptic mange has a predilection 

 for attacking those portions of the body covered by short 

 and fine hair, which is exactly the converse in psoroptic 

 mange, whilst the symbiotic acari confine their attentions 

 to the limbs, especially below the hocks and knees, where 

 they produce a great deal of irritation, moisture on the 

 skin, in fact, what is popularly known as grease or 

 seborrhoea; but all "greasy" legs are not due to mange 

 acari, some being of a constitutional nature. The latter 

 can only be treated successfully by remedies which 

 improve the general health. Psoroptic mange commonly 

 makes its appearance beneath the mane, between the ears. 



