186 MANGE. 



"When caused by contagion, the early symptoms of Mange 

 are excessive itching of the skin and falling away of the hair 

 in tufts and patches from various parts of the body. The 

 itching usually commences at the roots of the hair of the mane 

 and tail, gradually extending from thence along the neck and 

 back, down the breast, and under the abdomen. The limbs are 

 usually the last to become affected, and when affected, the most 

 tedious to cure. If the affection is allowed to run its course 

 unchecked by proper treatment, the animal very shortly 

 becomes all but entirely denuded of hair ; the skin will also 

 present a bleached condition, being dry, scurfy, and deeply 

 furrowed, with here and there a few solitary hairs projecting 

 from its surface. At this advanced stage of the malady, the 

 skin emits a peculiar dry burning heat, so peculiar, indeed, that 

 any one thoroughly conversant with the disease would recognise 

 it by this alone. 



The skin, where it is denuded of hair, will present innu- 

 merable small pimples of a dull red colour, some of which are 

 filled with a pale, brown- coloured liquid, while others are dry 

 and scaly. 



If the extremities are diseased, the hair upon them will 

 exhibit a dry ragged state ; the skin in the region of the joints 

 is sometimes scabby and ulcerated, and sometimes raw, from 

 the animal constantly rubbing one limb against the other. 



"When the Mange is severe, the general health of the 

 patient suffers ; the animal becomes dull and spiritless, and its 

 condition sinks rapidly. 



The symptoms now described are such as are usually observed 

 where Mange originates from contagion, in which case, as I 

 have previously remarked, the affection spreads over the entire 

 surface of the skin with astonishing rapidity. In the generality 

 of cases, however^ where the affection arises spontaneously, it 



