SarcopHc Scabies of the Legs in Birds. 209 



rounded papillary processes on the whole back of the female, and 

 the absence of the usual copulatory suckers near the posterior 

 border of the ventral aspect of the male. The female is .40 to .45 

 mm., and the male .20 mm. in length. 



Symptoms. These sarcoptes appear to live exclusively on the 

 legs and especially under the scales in front of these members. 

 They give rise to exudation with accumulation of a great amount 

 of a white powdery material which elevates the scales, in irregu- 

 lar masses and processes, greatly thickening and distorting 

 the leg. When the scales are picked or broken off by accident, 

 the crust on the inner side is friable, being hollowed out into a 

 system of cavities and chambers in which the acari have burrowed, 

 and any exposed vascular surface is red, tender, and ready to 

 bleed. In the deepest layer in the larger excavations are found 

 the motionless ovigerous females, while the larvae, nymphse and 

 males are generally distributed throughout the crust and on the 

 skin. Ova are rare as the parasite is ovoviviparous. Itching is a 

 marked feature, especially at night, and leads to pawing and 

 pecking at the affected limb. In this way as well as by pressure 

 of the super-incumbent crusts, inflammation is aggravated and 

 lameness, inability to stand long, arthritis and even gangrene of 

 the toes are brought about. 



The disease runs a slow cour.se gradually undermining the 

 health, lowering condition, and interrupting laying, until the 

 bird dies in marasmus in from six to twelve months. When 

 complicated by tinea favosa, diphtheria, coccidiosis, tubercle or other 

 disorder a fatal result is hastened. 



Treatment. The disease .spreads slowly from fowl to fowl, 

 one infested sometimes remaining in a flock for a length of time 

 without infesting others. The larger the number affected how- 

 ever, and the more advanced the disease, the greater the danger 

 of infection. All diseased birds should therefore be removed 

 from the flock, and the poultry house, but especially the nests and 

 roosts deluged with a boiling solution of caustic potash, followed 

 by saturation with a 5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid. 



For the affected birds the limbs should be dipped in a bath of 

 tepid water until the scabs are softened, then these are carefully 

 removed, and the whole member thickly covered with a sulphur 

 ointment (sulphur 2 drs., carbonate of potash i dr., lard i oz.). 



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