CATTLB. 333 



should be used to destroy the vermin, and the wound afterward covered 

 with tar to keep the fiies away. 



Ringworm. Ringworm is an affection of the skin, due to a vege- 

 table parasite. One of these parasites affects the hair and the outside 

 layer of the skin, and is highly contagious, being readidly transmitted 

 from one animal to ano'^her. This fungus consists of spores and fila- 

 ments. The spores being the most numerous, are round, nucleated, and 

 seldom very much in size. They are very abundant in the hair follicle. 

 The filaments are articulated, waving, and contain granules. The dis- 

 ease is productive of changes in the root and shaft of the hair, rendering 

 them brittle and easilly broken off. 



The other is due to another fungus. This enters the hair follicle and 

 involves the cuticle surrounding it, small crusts from which increase in 

 diameter and thickness and then become elevated at their margin, form- 

 ing a cup-shaped scab, the favus cup, which gives the disease its dis- 

 tinctive character. The number of these cups varies from a few to many 

 hundreds. The hairs involved become brittle and broken, fall off with 

 the crusts, leaving small bald patches. The crusts are of a pale or sul- 

 phur yellow color at first; as they grow older they turn darker, or to a 

 brown color. This form of ringworm has a peculiar odor, resembling 

 that of mice or musty straw. It is occasionally communicated to cattle 

 by man, mice, cats, etc., all being subject to this disease. 



Treatment. Remove all crusts by washing with soap and water, 

 then apply acetic acid, sulphur ointment, or nitrate of mercury ointment, 

 once a day. Cleanse the stable and whitewash it to destroy the spores 

 scattered by the crusts. 



PROSTRATION. 



Sunstroke or Prostration from Heat. Owing to the fact that 

 cattle are seldom put to work at which they would have to undergo 

 severe exertion, especially in collars, they are not frequently prostrated 

 by the extreme heat of the summer months. When at pasture they se- 

 lect the coolest places in the shade of trees, etc. , when the heat becomes 

 oppressive, and thereby avoid, as much as possible, the effects of it. But 

 nevertheless cases are not uncommon when cattle suffer from the so- 

 called sunstroke. 



Cattle that have been kept up for the purpose of fattening. When 

 driven some distance in very hot weather, are the most liable to be pros- 



