453 



apart from the skin at a heat of 145° F. They live tweb^e to fourteen 

 days apart from the skin in the damj) air of a stable. On a piece of 

 damp hide thej^ lived till the twenty-fourtli day, but were dead on 

 the twenty-eighth. 



The symptoms are an incessant, intolerable, and increasing itching 

 of some part of the skin (head, mane, tail, back, etc.), the horse 

 inclining himself toward the hand that scratches him, and moving his 

 lips as if liimself scratching. The hairs may be broken and rubbed 

 off, but the part is never entirelj^ bald as in ringworm, and there may 

 be papules or any kind of eruption or open sores from the energj^ of 

 the scratching. Scabs of any thickness may form, but the special 

 features are the intense itching and the discovery of the acarus. 



Treatment consists in the removal of the scabs by soaj)suds, and, if 

 necessarj^, a brush, and the thorough application of tobacco 1^ ounces 

 and water 2 pints, prepared by boiling. This may be applied more 

 than once, and should always be repeated after fifteen days, to destroy 

 the new brood that mjiy have been hatched in the interval. All har- 

 ness and stable utensils should be similarly treated; blankets and 

 rubbers may be boiled, and the stalls should be covered with a white- 

 wash of quicklime, containing one-fourth pound of chloride of lime to 

 the gallon. 



Parasite: Sarcoptes mutans. Malady: Sarcopfic acariasis from 

 fowls. — This parasite belongs to chickens, but can live on the skin of 

 the fox and horse as well. A troublesome mange may therefore at 

 times be traceable to the i)roximity of a chicken roost. The general 

 symptoms and treatment are essentially the same as for sarcoptis equi. 



Parasite: Psoroptis equi {Dermatocoptis equi, Dermatodectis equi). 

 Malady : Psor optic acariasis. — Thi s produces the most frequent mange 

 in horses, and as the parasite only bites the surface and lives among 

 the crusts under the shelter of the hair, it is very easily discovered. 

 It reproduces itself with equal rapidity, and causes similar symptoms 

 to those produced by the sarcoptes. The same treatment will suffice 

 and is more promptly effectual. The purifying of the stable must be 

 more thorough, as the psoroptis will survive twenty to thirty days in 

 the moist atmosi)here of a stable, and may even revive after six or 

 eight weeks when subjected to moist warmth. Infested pastures will 

 therefore prove dangerous to horses for that length of time, and with 

 rubbing posts, etc , should be secluded. 



Parasite: Symbiotis equi, DermatopJiagus equi, Cliorioptes spaiMf- 

 erous. Malady: Foot mange. — This acarus attacks the heels and 

 lower parts of the legs, especially the hind ones, and may be present 

 for years without extending upon the body. Like the psoroptis, it 

 lives on the s urf ace, on the hairs, and among the scabs. It gives rise 

 to great itching, stamj)ing, rubbing of the one leg with the other, and 

 the formation of papules, wounds, ulcerous sores, and scabs. The 

 intense itching will always suggest this parasite, and the discovery 



