SECTION xyiii 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN 



FROM a clinical point of view the diseases of 

 the skin may be considered under two headings 

 — parasitic and non-parasitic. 



Parasitic diseases of the skin are produced by 

 animal and vegetable parasites, while non-parasitic 

 diseases of the skin are idiopathic or exanthematous. 



Sarcoptic Mange 



This is a parasitic skin disease caused by the bur- 

 rowing into the skin of the Sarcoptes squamiferous 

 and is characterized by inflammation, pruritus, and 

 loss of hair. The eruptibn at first resembles flea 

 bites, but the patient's efforts to relieve the irritation 

 by scratching may cause the whole area to become 

 erythematous. Papules then make their appearance, 

 later becoming vesicles that eventually burst, leav- 

 ing little raw spots. The usual sites of this erup- 

 tion are the head, bridge of the nose, base of the 

 ears, eyebrows, the belly, around the elbows, root 

 of tail, the paws, the inside of the legs, and some- 

 times the genitals. It spreads rapidly and may in- 

 volve the whole body in less than a month. In 

 neglected cases the skin becomes greatly thickened, 

 wrinkled, covered with scales and scabs, and ofter 

 traversed by fissures. Warmth and exercise increase 

 the itching. It is very contagious, and patients 

 should be rigidly isolated. 



Treatment. — Isolate the patient and clip off the 

 hair from the whole body. Wash thoroughly in 

 warm water and green soap to remove dirt, scab, 



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