TO PKEVENT VERMIN. 417 



groomed horse. Bad food or starvation has something to do in 

 the production of lice; but the want of dressing has quite as 

 much, or more. It is the business of the stableman to prevent 

 mange, so far as prevention is possible. Its treatment belongs 

 to the veterinarian, and need not be here described. But it is 

 the groom's duty both to prevent and cure lousiness. 



Lice may accumulate in great numbers before they are dis- 

 covered. Sometimes they are diffused all over the skin ; at 

 otlier times they are confined to the mane, the tail, and parts 

 adjacent. The horse is frequently rubbing himself, and often 

 the hair falls out in large patches. There are many lotions, 

 powders, and ointments, for destroying lice. Mercurial oint- 

 ments, lotions of corrosive sublimate and decoctions of tobacco, 

 are so dangerous that they never should be used. Refuse 

 oil or lard, rubbed on a lousy beast of any kind, immediately 

 destroys the vermin, and there is no danger to be apprehended 

 from this application. It merely occasions the hair being shed 

 earlier in the spring, and requires a little extra attention in 

 housing such animals as have been affected. Vinegar, mixed 

 with three times its bulk of water, is also a good application, and 

 not dangerous. It is more irritating, but the irritation soon sub 

 sides and does not sicken the horse ; tobacco often will. Kext 

 day the skin should be examined, and wlierever there is any 

 sign of living vermin, another application should be made. 

 Two days afterwards the horse should be washed with soapy 

 water, warm, and applied with a brush that will reach the skin 

 withoat irritating it. 



In many cases, none of these remedies are necessary. It is 

 sufficient to wash the horse all over with soapy water. Black 

 soap is better than any other. It need not, and should not be 

 rubbed upon the skin. It may be beat into the water till it 

 forms a strong lather, and that should be applied with a brush 

 and washed off with clean warm water. Care must be taken 

 that the horse do not catch cold. He should be thoroughly 

 washed, but dried as quickly as possible, and get a walk after- 

 ward if the weather be favorable. 



The cloths should be dipped into boiling water, and the 

 inside of the saddle wet with the sublimate lotion. The litter 

 should all be turned out, and bm*ned, or buried where swine, 

 Vol. II.— 27 



