444 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



he lays particular stress on the extraordinary vitality of 

 the mould, and mentions that goats have been infected 

 with crusts from cattle eighteen months after their 

 removal. He regards the hfe of the fungus in pastures, 

 yards, and cattle-sheds as being under favourable condi- 

 tions indefinite. 



The same authority has found the spores of the fungus 

 in the abdomen of body lice taken from affected animals, 

 and this discloses a source of infection which might easily 

 be overlooked. 



The fungus which produces ringworm in both horses and 

 cattle is the Tricophyton tonsurans. It attacks the hair, 

 even its interior, and in calves is at times very persistent, 

 though readily amenable to treatment in horses. The 

 disease generally attacks young animals, adults are rarely 

 affected. 



A characteristic feature of the disease in calves is its 

 spontaneous cure in the course of two or three months, 

 though this depends upon the state of health of the 

 animal. 



The preventive measures and those of eradication are 

 based on what is known of the life-history of the fungus. 

 Its remarkable vitality shows how thorough must be the 

 methods of disinfection. Its saprophytic life shows how 

 difficult it is to eradicate from a farm. 



Dampness favours its growth, so that rotten wood, 

 decaying vegetable matter, damp fields, sheds, etc., are all 

 media on which the organism can grow ; even frost has no 

 effect on it. 



Limewash should be applied to every tree, post, hurdle, 

 rail, stable, and farm fittings to which the calves have had 

 access. All manure and litter should be burned, or covered 

 over with earth until ploughed in. Brown recommends a 

 preliminary disinfection with a solution of copper sulphate 

 or iron sulphate, which destroys the mould, and then lime- 

 wash to be applied. He especially directs attention to 

 every tumble-down building or obscure corner which has 

 the aspect of mouldiness. 



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