Sarcoptic Scabies. Acariasis in Ferrets. 207 



on the head or neck and it rarely extends upon the body. The 

 papules multiply and form vesicles, which rupture, exuding a 

 liquid that condenses into a crust. These crusts mat the hair to- 

 gether in tufts, and through additions to the crusts and the con- 

 tinuous scratching induced by the itching, the hair is shed leaving 

 bald, raw or encrusted areas. The exudate further invades the 

 skin and subcutaneous connective tissue, with thickening, rigidity, 

 swelling and blocking of the natural orifices. As the face 

 especially suffers the eyelids are encrusted and inverted over the 

 sunken eyes, the lips are thick, crusted and inelastic, the nostrils 

 are blocked , and the respiration sniffling. The animal becomes 

 dirty and haggard, eats little, wastes day by day, yet may live 

 from three to six months. Thus 5'oung kittens suffer most 

 acutely and die earliest, and especially in localities where a num- 

 ber of cats are affected. 



Diagnosis depends on the limited area affected — the head — 

 the attendant itching, the fact that a number of cats suffer in the 

 same place, and above all on the discovery of the sarcoptes, 

 which may be found beneath the scabs. If difficulty is met with, 

 the exposed skin may be scraped and the scrapings steeped for 

 two hours in caustic potash solution (1:10) or the scabs may be 

 tied on the human arm. 



Treatment is difficult owing to the risk of poisoning the cat. 

 On the whole the sulphur ointment (sulphur 2, carbonate of 

 potash I and vaseline 8) is the best and safest application. It is 

 of the utmost importance to institute treatment in the early stage 

 before the strength and vigor of the patient have been under- 

 mined. Styrax ointment has succeeded in the hands of Fried- 

 berger and Frohner. Bell succeeded with solution of zinc chlo- 

 ride (4:500). 



SARCOPTIC SCABIES. ACARIASIS IN FERRETS. 



S. Scabei v. hydrochceri : Attacks head and feet ; tufted hair, exudate, 

 crusts, chaps, sores, claws overgrown, intense itching, walks on foot-pad. 

 Treatment : Sulphur cream or ointment. 



This is due to Sarcoptes Scabei var. Hydrochceri and not 

 to the sarcoptes minor as in rabbits. The ovigerous female is .36 

 mm. long and the male .22 mm. A few attempts to transmit it 



