402 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



Prevention Methods. The owner of the dog must have his 

 attention called to the fact that the sarcoptes are highly conta- 

 gious, and may produce similar complications in other dogs and in 

 man, and while this may be of a very mild character, it has been 

 observed in the acute form in several cases (Siedamgrotzky, Fried- 

 berger, and others). The contact of mangy dogs with healthy 

 animals must be prevented, and covers, blankets, bedding, etc., 

 which have been used by the affected animals must be sub- 

 jected to a thorough cleansing by washing with hot solutions of 

 soda and a high degree of heat. The straw, of course, must be 

 burned. 



Fig. 91. 



ACARUS DBMODBX POLLICULORUM. 



[Follicular Mange.) 



Description of the Aoarus This parasite is about 0.3 mm. in 

 length and about 0.045 mm. in breadth. It has a broad, scissor- 

 like masticatory apparatus, a mobile anterior trunk, and three 

 jointed maxillary feet. It has a worm-shaped, wrinkled abdo- 

 men, with three jointed, clawy, thick, short feet 

 attached to the thorax. The elongated oval larvae 

 h^ve only six legs. (Fig. 91.) 



These parasites are found in the hair-follicles 

 and sebaceous glands, and by their presence show 

 a purulent disintegration of the peri-glandular and 

 peri-follicular tissues. The sebaceous glands are also 

 destroyed, causing aeneous pustules (see pages 835 

 and 394). The demudex acne shows itself in cer- 

 tain preferred parts of the body, especially the head, 

 throat, neck, and paws, but it may extend over the 

 entire body. . It is not very easily transmitted, as 

 has been proven by the attempt made by Weiss, 

 Martemucci, and others, who were unsuccessful. 

 Clinical Symptoms and Couese. These are 

 Acarua foiiicu- distinguished by a pustular and squamous form of 



lorum, magnified .. , rni , i » - ,i 



250 diameters, eruption.' ihc pustular form is the most common 

 (Feiedbeeoer. ) aud may be recognized by the hair falling out 

 by hyperajmic and swollen skin, which becomes 

 thickened and folded, forming nodules often the size of a millef- 

 seed, which change from bluish-red to yellow pustules, and finally 



