94 CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF DISEASE. 



tense itching and the mites may be found among scales and roots 

 of hairs, by standing the patient in the hot sun on the south 

 side of a building, or by scraping off some of the diseased skin 

 on a piece of black cloth and laving this in the hot sun. The 

 mites may then be seen with a lens. 



For the sarcoptes which burrow, it is necessary to scrape 

 deeply. These latter will not live so long in the sun as the others. 



General treatment— For mites the treatment is essentially the 

 same among all animals. Scrubbing brush, with soap and warm 

 water is a great help and then some application to kill the mites. 

 Sheep are dipped, larger animals are usually bathed. Shearing 

 of sheep is almost necessary to satisfactory treatment. Clipping 

 the larger animals is quite an aid. Treatment must be thorough 

 and directions followed. Sheep must go under, head and all. 

 For treating mange in cattle or horses the old fashioned lard 

 and sulphur, freely applied and repeated several times if nec- 

 essary at intervals of 8 to 10 days is very satisfactory, having 

 given good satisfaction where coal tar preparations have failed. 

 The latter are usually satisfactory, however, if used in sufficient 

 strength. 



General prevention of all forms of acariasis is merely the 

 prevention of a skin infection. Generous feeding is a good pre- 

 vention for many of the parasitic diseases, because it does not 

 allow animals like colts and calves to become thin and weak, 

 and thus easy subjects for parasitic invasion. Tonics are fre- 

 quently valuable to build up strength and increase the resisting 

 powers. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



