Demodecic Scabies. 213, 



while this scabies affects first the paws and head and the matter 

 squeezed from the acne-like elevations furnishes the demodex in 

 great abundance. It must be borne in mind that the presence of 

 the demodex often coincides with other parasitisms and non-para- 

 sitic diseases of the skin, and even, as Laulanie has shown, with 

 cutaneous tuberculosis. 



Susceptibility. Youth especially predisposes, and short hairs 

 appear to (Cornevin). We cannot, however, fully explain why 

 certain animals are specially receptive and others resistant. 

 Haubner and Cornevin respectively transmitted the disease from 

 dog to dog, only to find a .spontaneous recovery in eight days. 

 Many other attempts have failed from the first. The fact of liv- 

 ing together rarely transmits it (Weiss, Friedberger, Siedam- 

 grotzky, Csokor). 



Zurn claims to have seen a number of persons infested, who 

 handled demodecic dogs, while a number of others have inocu- 

 lated man from the dog without effect (Martensucci, Friedberger, 

 Cornevin). 



Treatment. Demodecic Scabies is difficult to deal with be- 

 cause the parasite lives so deeply in the hair follicles and gland 

 ducts where ordinary external dressings fail to reach it. The 

 great desideratum is to get something that will dissolve the 

 cerumen and make its way to the bottom of the follicular re- 

 cesses. To meet this, carbon bisulphide 10 parts, vaseline 30 

 parts (Megnin), or the bisulphide and sweet oil in the same pro- 

 portions may be rubbed into the affected parts daily. Zurn 

 recommends benzine i part, lard 4 parts ; and Hofer carbolic 

 acid I part, lard 30 parts. By replacing the lard by olive oil a 

 more diffluent and penetrating agent is obtained. Creolin or lysol 

 I part, olive oil 14 parts may be used. Brusasco gave a bath of 

 potassium sulphide Yo, to water 100 and followed by unguentum 

 cantharidis (1:6). Benzine, phenol, or creosote liniment might 

 be substituted for the Spanish fly. Megnin employed sulphur 

 baths daily for a month keeping the dog in the bath for 15 

 minutes each time and kneading or shampooing the skin through- 

 out. In the second month he gave the bath every second or 

 third day. He further succeeded with calcium sulphide made by 

 boiling 100 grammes sulphur with 200 grammes of quicklime in 

 a liter of water, then setting aside, and decanting and using the 

 clear solution. This he rubbed into the skin with a sponge daily 



