192 Veterinary Medicine. 



especially in winter, in folded sheep, and improving virtually to 

 apparent recovery in the hot weather when the symbiotes can 

 live in the hair, feeding on the secretions and without biting the 

 skin. It is on this account that German shepherds attribute the 

 disease to dry winter feeding and especially to the abundance of 

 salt consumed. The real cause is that the symbiotes is driven 

 inward by the cold to bite the skin and live under the scabs and 

 scurf where it causes intense irritation. It never hollows out 

 galleries under the epidermis like the .sarcoptes. 



Symptoms. The affection prevails in winter, causing redness 

 of the skin in the pasterns and lower parts of the limbs, with 

 abundant scaly desquamation and the formation of crusts. The 

 attendant itching maj"^ be violent, causing stamping, rubbing and 

 gnawing which induce scabbing, cracking, abrasions and even 

 oozing of blood. The symbiote may be found in and under the 

 crusts and being smaller than the psoroptes a more powerful lens, 

 or object glass may be required to discover it. The lesions 

 are at first confined to the hind limbs, but later extend to the fore 

 as well. In bad ca.ses the acari may crowd upward on to the arms 

 and thighs, but practically never invade the body : — a most im- 

 portant diagnostic symptom. Confined for a length of time to 

 the region of the hoof, the disease has been confounded with foot- 

 rot, hence the necessity of a careful search for the acarus. 



Treatment is very simple and effective. Any of the anti- 

 psoric liniments or dips, repeatedly applied to the affected part 

 will destroy the parasite. In England, Goodall found that 

 glycerine alone was successful and doubtless a bland oil or vase- 

 line freely applied so as to block the breathing orifices would be 

 equally effective. 



SARCOPTIC ACARIASIS (SCABIKS) IN GOATS. 



In Asiatic, African (dwarf) and Swiss goats. Has been transferred to face 

 of sheep, to man, horse, ox and pig, but not to iine-wooled sheep, dog nor 

 rabbit. Sarcoptes scabei v. Caprse, distinguished by its host. Symptoms : 

 Begins on face but extends lo head, ears, neck, trunk, udder and limbs ; 

 redness, papules, scales, scabs, friable scurf, with scratching, rubbing, abra- 

 sions, sores, pustules, inappetence, wasting, marasmus. Treatment : As for 

 sheep, but especially clipping and antipsoric liniments and ointments. 

 Otacariasis : Psoroptes in auditory meatus of goats in Pyrenees. Seemed 



