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domesticated and other animals. Unlike the other form of ringworm termed 
favus, a very much rarer malady, it is not especially liable to attack 
debilitated animals. We shall first devote our attention to the consideration 
of the common variety, and then shall shortly review the nature and 
treatment of the much rarer form. 
In the ordinary ringworm, the hairs are invaded in circular patches by 
the rapidly spreading fungoid growth. If this parasite be examined under 
the microscope, it will be seen to consist of little slender-jointed rods, and 
small highly refractile spores. This parasite spreads not only into the 
sheath, but also up the shaft of the hairs, and is known technically as the 
trichophyton tonsurans. The hairs become drier and more friable, and then 
break off near the roots, leaving little bald patches covered as it were with 
stubble. The commoner seats for the growth of ringworm are the back, 
neck, hind-quarters, and face. 
Ringworm is a very contagious malady, and the animals infected should 
therefore be isolated for atime from the healthy ones. To prevent the 
spread of the disease, the stables should be cleaned, and the walls 
whitewashed. The affected parts should be thoroughly washed with soft 
soap and hot water, and the scabs removed. After these preliminary steps, 
the circular patches may be dressed three times daily with a concentrated 
solution of hyposulphite of sodium (two drachms to each ounce of water); or, 
if preferred, the parts may be anointed with iodine ointment, or with a 
solution of blue vitriol (one drachm to each ounce of water). The harness, 
collars, and clothing should be washed with soft soap and hot water, and 
then with water to which hyposulphite of sodium has been added, in the 
proportion of one ounce to a quart of water. The rarer form of ringworm, 
generally spoken of as honey-comb ringworm, is due to the growth of a 
fungus called the Achorion Schénleinii. This disease is attended by the 
formation of yellowish cup-shaped scabs of a circular form. Professor 
Williams records that some years ago he was called upon to, attend a 
number of animals affected with this yellow honey-comb ringworm. This 
disease, which may be communicated from man to animals, in this respect 
resembling the common variety of ringworm, had attacked twenty horned 
cattle, three horses, some dogs, and several cats. The latter creatures had 
been in the habit of sitting on the backs of the horses and cows, and 
“doubtless the disease had been caught from mice by the cats, and then 
transmitted by them to the other animals about the place.” The formation 
of the circular patches is attended by some itching, The hairs are generally 
invaded in this form of ringworm, as in the other variety. The scabs should 
be thoroughly washed in warm water and soft soap, and then anointed with 
the hyposulphite solution, or with the official ointment of iodine, or that of tar. 
The ointments are probably best adapted for general use in cases of 
ringworm, because they do not become so quickly dried, and one application 
a day will prove sufficient, whereas the solutions, especially that of 
hyposulphite of sodium require to be painted on the affected part at least 
twice or three times during the course of each day. 
