TREATMENT OF MANGE. 627 



When the parasites have fairly gotten a hold all over the body, the poor animal is indeed 

 in a sad plight. 



Diagnosis. -A study of the symptoms, the gradual oncome of the disease, and the want 

 at first of constitutional disturbance, greatly aid us in forming a correct diagnosis, which, 

 however, is rather difficult ; but by a microscope of ordinary power we are enabled to see 

 the acari. 



Treatment. The cure of any disease consists in removal of the cause. In the case of 

 mange the cause is the acarus with which the poor animal is infested ; therefore the destruction 

 of this parasite means the removal of the disease. 



Now there are one or two things to be observed, if we would cure a case of mange speedily, 

 and still with safety to the dog. If quite certain in our diagnosis we may ignore internal 

 medicines entirely, and stick to topical, dressing the animal with some of the many acaricides 

 which the Pharmacopoeia furnish us with in numbers, and most of which will kill the parasites 

 in from half a minute up to five or six hours. Our advice is to sacrifice time for the sake of 

 safety. We must, before applying any dip or application, wash the dog in plain soap and luke- 

 warm water, rubbing the animal well, but using no extra violence. This alone does good ; then 

 dress. Select the parasiticide with care, remembering that the skin in many places is denuded of 

 cuticle and will rapidly absorb any poisonous application. The green iodide of mercury ointment 

 is a favourite with many, but only a portion of the dog's skin ought to be gone over at one 

 dressing. The same ointment we have often used with effect diluted with one part of lard, and 

 mixed with an equal bulk of compound sulphur ointment. The sulphur ointment itself, either 

 compound or simple, is also an excellent remedy. 



The application is to be allowed to remain on for three days, then the dog is to be washed 

 and another dressing given ; but, as we have seen that the parasites (the females) burrow under 

 the skin for some fourteen or sixteen days, five or six dressings and washings will be needed 

 to perfect the cure. 



Meanwhile, you must not forget that the animal's bedding is to be burned, and the kennel 

 itself completely scoured out with a hot lye of soda and water ; afterwards the wood-work, &c., 

 is to be carefully gone over with a mixture of pure carbolic acid dissolved in water viz., a 

 wineglassful to a pint. 



We have still a word to say on the subject of mange. We have seen that it is a disease 

 caused by a skin parasite, and therefore only local remedies are really needed to effect a perfect 

 cure. But we have seen, also, that the disease is in the commencement rather difficult to 

 diagnose, and that we who have microscopes are very glad to use them in order to make sure. 

 The reader may not possess a microscope, consequently he may be in doubt whether he may 

 not be treating a case of ekzema for one of mange. We see no harm, therefore, in recommending 

 the use of internal remedies, as well, to make assurance doubly sure. Mild purgatives during 

 the mange can do no harm ; neither, after a course of mild purgatives, can a course of liquor 

 arsenicalis do any harm, and it may do good, especially if the animal is in a low state of health, 

 for arsenic is one of the best nervo-tonics which we possess. 



At some large kennels in America the following plan of curing mange is adopted. The 

 animal is quarantined for a week or ten days in a warm room, the temperature of which is never 

 allowed to fall under 70, and during this time his skin is well wetted two or three times with 

 ivhale oil, nothing else. 



