MANGE. 223 
the contagion rapidly spreads; posts and rails are loosened or over- 
thrown by horses rubbing against them; or, should such things be want- 
ing, constant irritation instructs instinct, and the miserable animals scrub 
one against the other in the open space. 
Besides the grass field, foul lodging or*filth and poor provender will 
breed mange in the horse, as the same causes operating upon the human 
subject will engender a like disorder. It is sad to think that with the 
horse, as years increase, ailments accumulate and strength departs; it is 
sad to think, that as the animal’s life becomes more hard to sustain, its 
food is always the less nourishing and its labor the more exhausting ; 
that as care is necessary, so is neglect encountered; that the wretched 
quadruped at length is sold to some costermonger, who, when he makes 
the purchase, nicely calculates how many days of labor the emaciated 
life is capable of before it is turned over to the knacker. Many a noble- 
man must have looked upon an animal in the last stage of a weary life 
which was formerly the companion of his pleasures. The rusty, lean, 
and worn-out carcass most probably was not recognized, or how must 
reflection have whispered that power was not given to turn away exist- 
ence into wretchedness after willfulness had rendered the body less 
capable of sustaining suffering ! 
In the vast majority of cases this disease first appears in the mane, 
among the hairs of which a quantity of loose, dry scurf is perceptible. 
Before such a sign, however, is to be recognized, excessive itchiness is 
exhibited. The disease, once established, soon extends to the head, to 
the neck, to the withers, to the sides, to the loins, and to the quarters; 
only in very exceptional cases are the legs exposed to its attacks. As 
the disorder proceeds, the hair falls off, leaving vacant places upon the 
body; these have a peculiar, dry, acrid, and irritable appearance; they 
suggest that portions of the body have been scorched with quick-lime, 
so irregular, patched, and scabby are the parts just referred to. The 
integument in these places greatly thickens and is no longer soft and 
pliable as a lady’s glove, but becomes corrugated or thrown into well- 
defined folds. 
The hairs, however, are not all removed; a few and only a few re- 
main; these cling with exceeding tenacity to the surfaces which their 
fellows have quitted. The force required to pull out one of these 
remaining hairs is somewhat surprising, and the hair being extracted, 
the roots, upon close examination, will be discovered enlarged and far 
more vascular than is usual. 
The above are the broad and more obvious indications of mange. 
However, should the diseased locality be more minutely inspected, a 
number of small pimples are discerned; these elevations are clustered 
