SKIN DISEASES. 29 



INFLAMMATION OF THE SKIN. 



MANGE is the kennel term for several inflammations of the skin, whether acute 

 or chronic, the chief popular distinction from surfeit or blotch being, that it is 

 communicable from one to the other by contact that is to say, that it is " catching." 

 Hence, tbe sporting public exclude surfeit, blotch, &c., from this definition, and only 

 include under the term mange those chronic eruptions which are capable of being 

 taken by one dog from another. There are, however, several distinct varieties, 

 which are not sufficiently described ; and every now and then I see a fresh and 

 perfectly new form, so that I cannot give a complete epitome of them. Every 

 sportsman must know that when his dog has an eruption, the first question asked 

 is the following, namely, " Is it mange, or not ? " and to this it is not always easy 

 to give a satisfactory reply. The following are, however, the forms of mange 

 which I have met with ; but, as I said before, I am constantly meeting with a new 

 variety. 



1. VIRULENT MANGE, in its more ordinary form, occurs most commonly in 

 utterly-neglected and large kennels, where dogs are suffered to remain in large 

 numbers together, in all their filth, and without exercise. It is seldom met with 

 elsewhere, but it is highly contagious. The skin is bare of hair in large patches, 

 but these are not in regular forms, being gradually shaded off into the hairy parts, 

 as if from scratching, and are nowhere quite free from hairs. It is dry and rough, 

 with a few oozing scabs here and there, and with inflamed creases, extending 

 wherever there is a fold. The eruption is generally confined to the back, bosom, and 

 inside of the thighs. The health is not much affected, but from the loss of sleep, 

 and constant irritation caused by the itching, there is sometimes some little fever. 

 An insect (acarus) is the cause of this form of mange, but my readers will be 

 none the wiser for reading its scientific name. The treatment consists in a gentle 

 dose or two of aperient medicine internally, and externally of the application of the 

 ointment of green iodide of mercury, which should not be rubbed in at one time 

 over more than ono quarter of the body, for fear of absorption. In such virulent 

 cases, therefore, as extend to more than this extent of surface, a part should be first 

 anointed sparingly, taking care to leave no superfluous ointment on the coat but 

 rubbing it till it has nearly or quite disappeared. With this precaution no 

 danger is to be apprehended from licking, as a small quantity does no harm to a 

 dog of average strength. By repeating the application every second or third day, 

 the most severe cases are soon cured, no remedy within my knowledge being so 

 certain in its operation. In case of failure, Bishop's mange lotion may be used 

 instead. It is sold by Messrs. Barclay and Son, Farringdon-street, London. 



2. MANGE, WITH THICKENING OF THE SKIN, appears to be more dependent on 

 constitutional disorder than the first variety, and for it the arsenical solution is 

 no doubt very valuable. In this disease the discharge is very offensive ; the skin 

 is thick, and pouring out an irritating ichor, which occasions a constant and violent 

 itching ; the hair falls off, and the dog is continually scratching himself. 



