MITBS. 201 



question is contagious. If scabies appears in a few 

 members of a flock or herd, it is absolutely necessary 

 to separate the healthy animals from the sick ones, — 

 and it is further necessary to cleanse and disinfect 

 places where mangy animals have been kept, as well 

 as implements or machines which they have touched, 

 before sound animals are brought near such things. 

 Cleansing of folds, etc., with hot water, followed by 

 six weeks' disuse. Cleansing of infected implements 

 with hot soda and water. The first important thing 

 to ascertain is whether a sick animal, which has the 

 external symptoms of scabies, is really afiected; in 

 order to determine this the mange-mites must be 

 found. If the mites cannot be found on the suspected 

 animal, it must be brought into a warm stall and 

 covered over; especial care must be taken to warm 

 the places where the skin seems worst attacked; 

 warmth makes the mites more active, and induces 

 them to come to the surface. Sarcoptic mites are 

 the worst. I will deal but briefly with the treatment 

 of mangy animals, as it is usually best to obtain the 

 advice of a veterinary surgeon. External applications 

 must naturally be employed. It appears from the 

 investigations of Vogel that corrosive sublimate and 

 arsenic kill the mange-mites less rapidly and there- 

 fore less surely than creosote, carbolic acid, benzine, 

 tar, caustic potash, and tobacco, or even soft soap. 

 Zilrn recommends a thorough smearing of soft soap 

 on the parts aflTected. The soap is allowed to remain 

 for some time, even for a whole day, the infested 

 spots are then rubbed with hot water, and brushed, 

 if possible, until the crust on the skin disappears. 

 Other remedies may now be employed. As such, 

 Ziirn mentions creosote, diluted with spirit or oil 

 (1 : 25). Also, among other things, the following 

 are recommended — benzine shaken up with water 

 (1 : 5-10), or a solution of 1 part caustic potash in 

 30 to 40 parts of water. The above and several 



