ACARUS DEMODEX FOLLICULORUM 473 



The prognosis is generally unfavorable, as it is almost impossible 

 to reach the parasites, and it is necessary to continue vigorous treatment 

 for months, and then, when apparently the animal seems to have gotten 

 entirely well and remains so for a certain interval, invariably it suddenly 

 bursts out and the disease appears with increased violence. The cases 

 which are successfully treated are those that are limited to a very much 

 restricted area, but it must be borne in mind that every recovered case 

 must be closely watched for months after the active symptoms disappear. 

 This is especially the case with the squamous form, which is always 

 considered the worst form of follicular parasitic mange. 



Therapeutics. — The hair must be shaved off in the diseased portion 

 and to include a good portion of the surrounding tissues, or if the animal 

 is affected generally, the whole body should be clipped. This can be 

 done by means of a scissors, clippers, or even lathered and shaved with 

 a razor, and the hair removed should be burned and the instruments 

 thoroughly disinfected. The animal is then bathed in warm water and 

 soft soap, to which is added in the proportion of 1 to 10, creolin, pix 

 liquida, or styrax. Sulphuretted baths are then to be repeated twice a 

 week. Fill a large tub or barrel and add from 50.0 to 200.0 of sulphuret 

 of potash, and to prevent the too free liberation of sulphuretted hydrogen 

 5.0 of sulphuric acid should be added. The toxic properties of the 

 hydrogen gas makes it necessary to keep the tub in an open shed or out 

 in the air. 



(a) Treatment of the Pustular Form. — When pustules are present 

 they must be squeezed and emptied every day. In some instances it is 

 necessary to open the hard nodules by means of a sharp scalpel, and at the 

 same time apply the antiparasitic agents already mentioned with a brush 

 twice daily. The animals, as a rule, show great pain and object to it, 

 but to obtain any good results this must be followed up patiently. Any 

 of the solutions may be used, as one is as good as another, but we must 

 remember that where we have an opening directly into the deep portions 

 of the skin that reabsorption of poisons through the membrane is much 

 easier, consequently it is better to select a non-poisonous remedy, such 

 as Peruvian balsam or warm preparations of salicylic acid (1 part of 

 salicylic acid to 40 parts of olive oil). Both agents may be replaced by 

 styrax (in oil solution). Solutions such as tincture of iodine, Lugol's 

 .solution, corrosive sublimate are all more or less dangerous and never 

 can be used with the same freedom as the balsam. 



(6) Treatment of the Squamous Form. — In this condition we must 

 first try to reach the parasites, and this we do by systematic rubbing 

 with acid ointments or strong concentrated salicylic ointments (1 to 5), 

 and also with soft soap or lye. When we have removed the scabs and 

 scales with this form of treatment we must apply the same treatment 



