Diseases of the Skin. — External Parasites. 213 



the disease very speedily, and promptly checks its exten- 

 sion. 



" If there is any emaciation, tonics may be necessary,"* 



RINGWORM (Honeycomb). 



But little is known of this species of ringworm as affect- 

 ing the dog. The disease, like the former, is due to the 

 presence of a fungus, the Achorion Schonleinii, or Favus 

 Tinea favosa. The parasite is situated in the hair follicle, 

 external to the layer of epithelium which covers the root 

 of the hair. It has a peculiar mousy odour, or, according 

 to others, that resembling cat's urine. 



The causes giving rise to this affection are supposed to 

 be uncleanliness, neglect in hygiene, and certain peculiar 

 and humid conditions of the skin. 



Symptoms. — Fleming observes : " The disease may 

 appear in any part of the body of animals, according to the 

 point of infection. It affects mice generally ; but cats 

 ■which are infected from them usually have it first at the 

 base of the claws of the fore-feet. In the dog it has been 

 seen on the head, and it usually affects the head in the 

 human species. In the rabbits I saw diseased the parasite 

 ■was at first on the nose and face, but gradually extended 

 towards the shoulders. 



" The disease commences with an increased proliferation 

 of epidermic cells, and soon after a little white sub- 

 epidermic speck becomes visible, which quickly develops 

 into a favus-cup— the developed fungus. As the elements 

 of the latter grow, they collect about the hair-follicle, each 

 favus- cup being pierced near its centre by a hair. At first 

 the/aM are merely yellow specks. 



" When the malady is of some duration, it is character- 

 ised by one or more masses of irregular crusts, more or less 

 fissured, of a pitchy consistency, offering, when broken, a 



* Fleming's " Veterinary Sanitary Science," vol. ii. p. 471. 



