Diseases of the Skin —External Parasites. 215 
_Treatment—With regard to curative measures the same 
able writer observes: “The crusts should be removed by 
alkaline washes—hyposulphite of soda, or raising them by 
means of a spatula or the blunt extremity of curved 
scissors, taking care not to make the part bleed. When the 
skin has been cleansed in this manner as much as possible, 
a concentrated solution of corrosive sublimate (one to five 
of the sublimate to fifty of distilled water) should be applied 
every day. After the first application, the favus crusts 
sometimes have a tendency to be reproduced, and the 
cryptogamic elements to multiply. In such a case, it is 
necessary again to remove the crusts, as at first. Five or 
six dressings are usually sufficient. At times, however, and 
especially when the disease is seated at the base of the 
claw (as in the cat), they must be continued for a longer 
period. Under the influence of this treatment, the skin, 
which is depressed on its surface, is not long before it re- 
gains its normal vitality and thickness. During the first 
two or three days a new crust forms; but this has not the 
sulphur-yellow colour of the primary crust, and if examined 
with the microscope, there are no longer to be found traces 
of the parasite, but only numerous epithelial elements. 
Finally this kind of crust falls off, leaving the skin hair. 
less, but everywhere level, smooth, and supple. Then the 
hair begins to grow, and in a variable period—generally 
about three months—it is difficult to discover the part that 
has been affected. 
‘“An ointment composed of one part nitrate of silver to 
100 parts of lard, has also been successfully employed. 
“Mercurial ointment, tar ointment, and sulphate of 
mercury ointment have also been beneficially used. In 
some cases it may be necessary to remove the hair.”* 
ALOPECIA (BALDNESS). 
This condition, which is. most prevalent amongst foxes 
* Fleming’s ‘ Veterinary Sanitary Science,” vol. ii, pp. 480, 481. 
