DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 331 



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

 that of mice or musty straw. It is occasionallj^ communicated to 

 cattle by man, mice, cats, etc., all being subject to it. 



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

 then apply acetic acid, sulphur ointment, tincture of iodin or nitrate 

 (if mercury ointment once a day. Cleanse the stable and whitewash 

 it to destroy the spores scattered by the crusts. 



OTHER PARASITES AND PARASITIC DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



For discussion of mange, itch, scab, lousiness, warbles (grub in 

 the skin), buffalo gnats, hornfly (Tla'rimtobia serrata), ticks, flies, 

 etc., see the chapter on " The animal parasites of cattle," page 510. 



WOUNDS OF THE SKIN. 



SNAKE BITES AND VENOMOUS STINGS. 



[See discussion of tliese subjects in chapter on " Poisous and poisoning."] 

 BURNS AND SCALDS. 



This is a rare accident among cattle, yet in cases of fire it may 

 occur. The application' of heat, whether dry or moist, unless suffi- 

 cient instantly to destroy the life of a part, is always followed by 

 the development of vesicles or blisters, which contain a thin, watery 

 fluid. The blisters may be isolated and not very large, or one blister 

 may cover a very large surface. When the burn is very severe the 

 skin may be wholly devitalized, or the injury may extend into the 

 deeper structures of the skin. Then sloughs will occur, followed 

 by a contraction of the parts in healing ; if on a limb, this may render 

 the animal stiff. When the burn or scald has been a severe one, the 

 resulting xoain is great and the constitutional disturbance very 

 marked. 



Treatment. — For a superficial burn use a mixture of equal parts of 

 limewater and linseed oil, or common white paint — white lead ground 

 in oil — to exclude the atmosphere and protect the inflamed skin. 

 If it is not convenient to get anything else, chimney soot, flour, or 

 starch may be spread on the wound (dry), and covered with cotton 

 batting and light bandage. The blisters should be opened to let the 

 contained fluid escape, but do not pull off the thin cuticle which has 

 been raised by the blister. When the burn is extensive and deep 

 sloughing occurs, the parts should be treated, like other deep wounds, 

 by poulticing, astringent washes, etc. Whan the system has sus- 

 tained much shock, the animal may require internal stimulants, 

 such as 4 ounces of whisky or 2 drams of carbonate of ammonia 

 every hour until it rallies. When the pain is vei'v great, hypo- 

 dermic injections of 6 grains of morphia may be administered every 

 six hours. 



