4S DISEASES OF RABBITS 



The lesions occur almost exclusively on the 

 noise, lips, forehead, and legs and have not been 

 observed on the body. Affected animals rub 

 against the sides of the hutch, scratch them- 

 selves, and show great irritation. The fur 

 falls off and the skin is seen to be covered with 

 white or grayish crusts. The crusts are ex- 

 tremely adherent and there is much prolifera- 

 tion of the epithelium. If unchecked, the ani- 

 mals gradually lose condition owing to contin- 

 ued irritation and want of rest, and possibly 

 to the absorption of toxins produced by the 

 parasites. Many of the affected animals die 

 from inanition and marasmus. 



Treatifnent: Coincident with the treatment 

 of the individuals, the hutches should be thor- 

 oughly disinfected and all affected animals iso- 

 lated from the rest of the rabbitry and also 

 from horses, as the sarcoptic variety is con- 

 tagious to horses. 



The hair should be clipped from the affected 

 parts and the crusts softened by the application 

 of soft soap well rubbed in and left on for half 

 an hour, and then washed off with warm water. 

 Sulphur ointment, 1 to 4, is then to be thor- 

 oughly rubbed into both the affected parts 

 and a wide margin of the surrounding skin. 

 The treatment should be repeated every five 

 days until a cure is effected. In order to ob- 

 tain the best results from the sulphur ointment 



