SECTION X. 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND SUB-TISSUES. 



Itch and Mange — Lice on Animals — Grease and Scratches — Surfeit — Drop- 

 sical Limbs — Scarletina — Ringworm — Prurigo — Pole-evil — Fistulous 

 Withers — Warts on the Skin — Purpura Hemorrhagica — Out of condi- 

 tion — Hide-bound— Herpes. 



Itch and Mange. 



ITCH, mange, and scabies are essentially local affections of the 

 skin, and are occasioned by the presence of parasites known 

 as " sarcoptes-equi." The eruption ensuing on the skin of a horse, 



when subject to this affection, is very 

 similar to the appearance of itch in man, 

 and probably is just as tormenting to 

 the animal as in the case of his master. 

 Numerous cases are recorded of trans' 

 mission of itch from horse to man, and, 

 when so acquired, it is impossible to dis- 

 tinguish it from the human itch. Some 

 persons suffer severely when attending 

 mangy horses, but a clean person or clean 

 horse are not apt to take the disease. It 

 is well known that a healthy and clean 

 horse may stand for weeks near a mangy- 

 one without taking the disease, showing, 

 very conclusively, that the best preventive measures are those 

 which promote health and cleanliness. As the English groom 

 says, " plenty of elbow-grease, by means of brush and curry-comb. 

 on the skin of the horse ; regular daily exercise, pure air in the 

 stable, and a sufficiency of good digestible food are sovereign 

 remedies against itch and mange." This, we presume, is all the 

 (274) 



Af'ARrS, OR SARCOPTES-EQFI, THE 

 ITCH PARASITE (MAGNIFIED). 



