SWINE. 411 



and requiring for its development the passage of the parasites or their 

 eggs from diseased to healthy animals. In men, this disease is termed 

 "the itch," and in the lower animals it is usually alluded to as "mange" 

 and in sheep it is well known as a fearfully destructive disease, under 

 the name of ' 'scab. ' ' 



The mange of the pig is due to the presence of a burrowing sarcoptes. 

 Sarcoptes suis is much like the human sarcoptes and llu horse sarcop- 

 tes. Itch and mange are known to be essentially skin diseases, curable 

 alone by topical remedies; and the medicines used are valuable almost 

 in proportion to the rapidity with which they destroy the life of the 

 parasites which give rise to the irritation and other morbid appearances. 



In treating the mange we should first cover the body with soft soap, 

 and wash it oif some time afterwards with warm water, and have 

 the animal well brushed; or a wash may be used, consisting of one part 

 caustic potash to fifty parts of water; or one part of creosote to forty 

 parts of oil, well mixed; or sulphuret of potassium in water, in the pro- 

 portion of one to ten parts; or a decoction of tobacco, in the ratio of one 

 to twenty-five; or lastly, concentrated vinegar. One or two days after 

 the thorough application of either one of these preparations, wash the 

 body well with soap and water or potash lye. When scabies is treated, 

 it is essential to purify all objects with which animals can come in con- 

 tact. Thus, all rubbing-places and sties should have a covering of lime, 

 or chloride of lime. The sties should be cleaned out entirely, or the 

 pigs removed for a few months to a new pen. 



Recipe For Mange Ointment. Melt half a pound of common 

 turpentine with a pound and a half of I,ard. Stir well therein a pound 

 of flowers of sulphur, and when cool, rub down upon a marble slab, two 

 ounces of strong mercurial ointment with these. 



Pigs I/Osing Their Tails. Pigs occasionally have their tails 

 frozen, which causes them to drop off, or may result from an hereditary 

 tendency to a disease of the skin which attacks the young pig at that 

 particular point, the circulation is interfered wit' and the member per- 

 ishes and drops off. 



If the disease appears, apply carbolic soap to the affected pare, or wash 

 clean, and apply glycerine, sweet oil, or a little fresh lard. 



The most effectual preventive is to keep pigs clean, dry. and abun- 

 dantly nourished. 



Inflammation of the Brain, or "Blind Staggers. This dis- 

 ease frequently attacks swine, especially when changed to rich, abun- 



