DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND SUB-TISSUES. 
hatched under certain cutaneous affections, thus accounting fir 
spontaneous cases differently from the atmospheric distribution of 
eggs. Hence the reason why sulphur and mercury are taken, 
internally as well as externally, to get rid of the disease. But 
this sanguiferous doctrine of distribution is more difficult to re 
concile with entomological science than the atmospheric one, 
Contagion by direct contact of clean animals with diseased, or 
where the former enter foul ground, will be difficult to avoid so 
tong as the commerce of live farm stock is conducted as at present; 
for diseased animals will be sent to market, although contrary te 
the spirit of the law, thus not only communicating the disease to 
all they come in contact with, but also infecting the market-place. 
According to the experiments made by Mr. Simonds, acari left 
upon a post, hurdle, or hedge by a scabbed beast will survive 
for fourteen days, and at the end of that time lay hold of any 
animal coming in contact with it, and thus communicate the dis- 
ease; consequently our weekly and fortnightly markets are little 
better, during the warm months of summer, than nests for pro- 
pagating malignant parasites. It would be well, then, if very 
stringent statutes were enacted, confiscating all diseased animals 
offered for sale, and that microscopical examinations were enforcec 
in all suspicious cases, so as to guarantee its healthy operation. 
It will thus be seen that the means for preventing contagion may 
be summed up in two words—improved management. 
At a very early period in our history, acarus scabiei was much 
more common among our forefathers than among their posterity 
cf the present day. The change which has taken place is obvi- 
ously attributable to progress in dietetics, clothing, and medicine; 
and among our domesticated animals it is no more than reasona- 
ble to conclude that similar causes will produce similar effects, 
In point of fact, improved management has already greatly re 
duced the prevalence of scabies among both our herds and flocks, 
thus holding out every encouragement to persevere in obtaining 
further progress. There is, perhaps, no branch of husbandry 
where greater advances can be made than in cattle-cookery, house 
hold accommodation, including grooming, etc., and medicine ; and 
when we contemplate how much cutaneous diseases are dependent 
on management in each of these three respects, it were difficalt ta 
estimate what influence further improvements in them may rave 
on the disease in question.” 
