2o6 THE HORSE 



at the anterior end of the body, the latter being ovoid. 

 Some horses are simultaneously attacked with hce and 

 mange, therefore a considerable amount of care must be 

 exercised when dealing with skin trouble of a horse. If 

 lice are present a critical inspection of the skin will reveal 

 their existence. These pests cause a lot of irritation, 

 rubbing, and even loss of hair, symptoms which are equally 

 significant of sarcoptic and psoroptic mange, and both of 

 these are notifiable diseases. One lousy horse or mule is 

 quite capable of infecting others directly or indirectly, 

 so that it is impossible, for the well-being of horses, to 

 neglect the animal when it is in this condition. Horses 

 which are dirty and badly kept are those which are most 

 liable to be troubled with hce, but every case must be 

 the result of infection, as hving matter can never spring 

 into existence from non-hving matter. In dealing with a 

 trouble of this kind the first thing to be done is to cHp 

 the animal from head to foot, then singe it, and lastly 

 sterilise everything in the stable with which the animal 

 has been brought into contact. Rugs, grooming ap- 

 pliances, stable fittings, harness, the shafts of a cart, 

 must all be treated with boiling water, soda and some 

 strong disinfectant. The horse should also be thoroughly 

 scrubbed with warm water, carbohc soft soap and a 

 solution of some disinfectant, such as creoHn. If it is a 

 stud of horses, the trouble must be attacked in a most 

 thorough manner. Horses which are lousy cannot rest, 

 therefore cannot thrive properly. No self-respecting 

 owner and no horsekeeper or groom would allow his horses 

 to get into this condition. A decoction of tobacco — 2 oz. 

 strong tobacco to a pint of water, boiled together for an 

 hour, makes a good application for lice. This fluid should 

 be passed through musHn before being applied. 



Ringworm 

 This is of common occurrence in a horse and appears 

 to be more prevalent at certain seasons of the year. It 



