262 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
MILK SCAB.—CRUSTA LACTZA, 
Crusta lactza consist in white pustules on the head, chiefly about the 
mouth, nose, eyes and ears, discharging a sticky fluid, becoming dry, and 
leaving bluish-white scabs. Other parts of the body may be somewhat 
affected. It is very contagious but causes no itching; has thicker scabs than 
exist in itch; and is not dangerous, though it produces loss of strength and 
flesh, and diarrhea. 
TREATMENT.—Persevere some time, once or twice a day, with either 
calcarea carbonica, rhus, arsenicum, thuja, or sulphur, applying a lotion of 
arsenicum externally; and if the lotion is a failure, rub on thuja occasionally. 
ITCH.—MANGE. 
This is similar to itch in the human being, and is caused by the pres- 
ence of numerous minute parasites. The predisposing causes are bad 
food, wet weather, filth, close, damp, unclean stables, bad winter care, in- 
deed, whatever puts the animal in poor condition. It is more commonly 
taken by contagion from an infected animal, and may thus be communi- 
cated to the human system. 
Symptoms.—tIn dry itch, restlessness; scratching; naked or scaled and 
bleeding spots; perhaps ulcers and scabs later, giving out a fluid which 
soon thickens and forms crusts. In mozst itch, larger, deeper ulcers, with a 
thin, reddish, irritating fluid and thicker scabs than in dry itch. Marasmus 
or dropsy may ensue (which see). Itch is liable to be attended with lice 
(see Lice). The only absolute proof of itch is the presence of the insect, 
which may be detected if one will scrape off some of the scurf and ex- 
amine it carefully—with a magnifying glass if his sight is not sharp. 
TREATMENT.—Make an ointment of one ounce of sulphur and two 
ounces of lard, thoroughly mixed. Rub this on with a clean, large paint- 
brush, being sure to reach every part and wrinkle where the parasites may 
be. If a few remain they defeat a cure. Use this morning and night for 
a day or two. Give internally two grains of sulphur in the morning, and 
as much arsenicum at night. Wash the scaly parts thoroughly with soap: 
and tepid water, and then carefully dry with a cloth. Ointments contain- 
ing mercury and arsenic are to be avoided. Pastures in which infected 
animals have run should be vacated eight to ten weeks before they are 
used again, the cloths, brushes and other articles used in the treatment be- 
ing burned or thoroughly boiled, and the stable, gates and posts against 
which they have rubbed being studiously washed with strong carbolic 
acid to prevent a spread of the disorder in the herd. 
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