MANGE 59 



MANGE 



Mange, or scabies, or scab, in horses is usually of the 

 sarcoptic form. It is a disease affecting the skin and hair, 

 and at times has a general devitalizing effect upon the 

 subject. While the disease is contagious, it also occurs 

 sporadically. 



Symptoms. The disease begins with itching, as a result 

 of which the horse rubs the infected parts against any 

 convenient object. The parts first infected are usually , 

 the head and neck, shoulders and withers. Later the 

 entire skin may be involved. Following the itching stage 

 there appear numerous pimples or nodules of small size, 

 which later burst and form scabs. The hair in the region 

 comes out in tufts or patches, so that in a well-marked 

 case considerable areas of the skin become hairless. When 

 the disease is generalized and has existed for a long time 

 the patient becomes emaciated and unthrifty. 



Treatment. Affected horses should have isolated stalls, 

 individual brushes, curry-combs, and harness. So that 

 treatment may be most effectual, the animal should be 

 clipped first. The affected area should be thoroughly 

 scoured with soap and warm water, so that all scabs are 

 thoroughly removed. The diseased skin is then to be 

 thoroughly anointed with a mixture of equal parts of oil 

 of cajuput and cottonseed-oil. This anointing should be 

 done quite vigorously, and is to be repeated again three 

 days later, but omitting the washing with soap and water. 

 Usually, after the second application the affected area 7 

 shows signs of healing, and another application or two . 

 completes the cure. 



Fresh eruptions on other parts of the body are treated 

 similarly as they appear. In chronic eases the internal 

 administration of Fowler's solution of arsenic helps to 

 bring about a more rapid recovery. 



