Diseases of the Skin. — External Parasites. 2 1 5 



Treatment. — ^With regard to curative measures the same 

 able writer observes : " The crusts should be removed by- 

 alkaline washes — hyposulphite of soda, or raisingthem by- 

 means of a spatula or the blunt extremity of curved 

 scissors, taking care not to make the part bleed. When the 

 skin has been cleansed in this manner as mfuch as possible, 

 a concentrated solution of corrosive sublimate (one to five 

 of the sublimate to fifty of distilled water) should be applied 

 every day. After^ the first application, the favus crusts 

 sometimes have a tendency to be reproduced, and the 

 cryptogamic elements to multiply. In such a case, it is 

 necessary again to remove the crusts, as at first. Five or 

 six dressings are usually sufficient. At times, however, and 

 especially when the disease is seated at the base of the 

 claw (as in the cat), they must be continued for a longer 

 period. Under the influence of this treatment, the skin,, 

 which is depressed on its surface, is not long before it re- 

 gains its normal vitality and thickness. During the first 

 two or three days a new crust forms ; but this has not the 

 sulphur-yellow colour of theprimary crust, and if examined 

 with the microscope, there are no longer to be found traces 

 of the parasite, but only numerous epithelial elements. 

 Finally this kind of crust falls off, leaving the skin hair- 

 less, but everywhere level, smooth, and supple. Then the 

 hair begins to grow, and in a variable period — generally 

 about three months — it is difficult to discover the part that 

 has been affected. 



"An ointment composed of one part nitrate of silver to 

 100 parts of lard, has also been successfully employed. 



"Mercurial ointment,^ tar ointment, and sulphate of 

 mercury ointment have also been beneficially used. . In 

 some cases it may be necessary to remove the hair."* 



ALOPECIA (Baldness). 

 This condition, which is most prevalent amongst foxes 



* Fleming's " Veterinary Sanitary Science," vol. ii., pp. 480, 481. 



