MAD ITCH. 441 



seed to that of a kidney-bean — when the eyelids are swelled so that 

 the animal can scarcely see, and a great quantity of mucus is dis- 

 charged from them — when the nostrils and lips are thickened, and 

 dense and yellow mucus runs from the nose — when, beginning from 

 the knees and reaching almost to the hoofs, the intervals between the 

 chaps are occupied by tuberculous grapes, of different sizes, and 

 some of which discharge a serous fluid ; — in such cases the surgeon 

 may well be puzzled what to do. 



The animal must be bled and physicked ; but his strength must 

 be supported by mashes and plenty of fresh green meat : he must 

 be fomented all over many times every day, and he must be kept 

 where he cannot communicate the infection. If the inflammation 

 does not begin to subside, he must be bled again and again ; the 

 physic must be repeated ; sulphur will constitute the best physic 

 here, and he must be kept under its purgative influence : and, at 

 at length, the skin beginning to supple — the cutaneous inflammation 

 having, to a considerable degree, subsided — the ointment and the 

 powder recommended for mange must be used. Should they not 

 have sufficient efi'ect, recourse must be had to the stronger ones pre- 

 scribed for leprosy. Previous, however, to the use of either of the 

 ointments, and after the inflammation has abated, the solution of the 

 chloride of lime may be applied on two or three successive days with 

 much advantage. 



Hom'xopathic treatment. — Some doses of sulphiw (one a day) is 

 the first remedy to be employed. Then staphysagria should be ad- 

 ministered, more especially when there are dartrous eruptions, with 

 itching during the night. Dulcamara is good in the vesicular erup- 

 tion, with yellowish serosity, which comes on after sudden cold, and 

 which is accompanied by a discharge from the nose, as well as in 

 dr}' and furfuraceous dark-colored eruptions. Mezereum is indicated 

 in itchy tubercles, with redness of the skin ; arsenicum, in case the 

 appetite is impaired, with periodical diarrhoea. 



MAD ITCH. 



This is a disease pecuhar to the valley of the Mississippi and its 

 tributaries, and, on account of its name, is reserved for this place. 

 It is, however, not a disease of the skin, but of the manyplus or 

 manifolds. It is said to be found only in cattle following hogs in the 

 corn-fields. The hogs chew the green corn-stalk, extracting the 

 juice, and leaving the refuse. Cattle eagerly eat the chewed stalks; 

 and not unfrequently these become impacted in the manyplus, and 

 are then dry and indigestible. Cattle which are diseased by feeding 

 on these corn-stalks, exhibit their diseased condition by a wildness 

 of the eyes, and by rubbing the nose and head against any object 

 near them, as trees or fences. This is so violently done, that they 

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