134 PARASITIC SKIN DISEASES. 



Ticks {Ixodes). 



Ticks similar to those found on dogs, are met with in almost all 

 countries on horses which graze in the open. South African horses 

 tliat live on the veldt, are generally infested with them. The 

 females cling to the horse's skin by means of their teeth, and fill 

 themselves with blood, in doing which they cause little or no 

 irritation to their host. They are best removed by dropping a 

 little turpentine or paraffin oil on them, on the application of 

 which they will relax their hold and fall off. Or they may be 

 snipped off with a scissors, when the head, which remains attached 

 at the time, will soon dry up and fall off. They should not be 

 pulled off ; if that be attempted, the piece of skin by which the 

 parasite has maintained its position, will become lacerated by 

 the teeth of the tick, and a troublesome wound may result. The 

 advisability of throwing the detached tick into boiling water or 

 fire is manifest. 



Poultry Mites {Dermanyssus gallince). • 



The poultry mite belongs to the same order (Acarina) as the 

 mange insect of the horse and the itch insect of man, and is about 

 a fortieth of an inch in length. These parasites, which infest ill- 

 kept poultry and pigeons, are apt to settle on the horse, if these 

 birds be allowed free entrance into the stable, or be kept close to 

 it. They cause intense itching of the skin. As they can live 

 for only two or three days away from their natural host, removal 

 of the birds or of the horse will constitute the only treatment 

 required. If an application be considered necessary, use an ounce 

 of creolin, or Jeyes' Fluid, to a pint of water. They freely attack 

 human beings who come in contact with infested birds, or sit 

 down on coops occupied by them. 



Mange Insects. 



Mange is a contagious disease caused by the presence of a small 

 insect that varies in length from a fortieth to a hundredth part of 

 an inch, according to the species, of which there are three. One 

 of the species (sarcoptes) and the itch insect of man are varieties 

 of the same parasite. 



PREVALENCE. — Mange is a somewhat rare disease. The 



