ARACHNIDA. 271 
The “ seven-year itch,” ‘army itch,” and “Jackson itch” are simply 
aggravated cases, where, from lack of good sanitation, the mites are able 
to thrive better than usual. 
Fig. 163.—Burrow of itch mite in human skin, with eggs and mite—enlarged (after Furstenberg, 
from Murray). 
In the human subject the application of sulphur ointment, in addi- 
tion to frequent washing with soap and hot water, and for domestic 
animals the use of washes or dips, as for scab mites, are to be adopted. 
ItcH MITE OF THE CAT. 
(Sarcoptes cati Hering and Gerlach.) 
I am not aware that this species has been observed in this country, 
but from the descriptions of it in the Old World it must be a very 
destructive species to the animal it infests. Our account is taken from 
Murray: | 
On the cat and rabbit the species is a good deal smaller than the Sarcopies scabiei 
The thorns or spines on the back begin to alter; on the thorax they are absent or 
turned into hairs, and there are now twelve thorns on the back of the abdomen. 
Both in the cat and the rabbit this parasite takes the head as its point of attack, 
and more particularly the base of the nose, the lips, the ears, and the eyes. Even 
when the animal is inoculated elsewhere by putting mites upon other parts of the 
body, and after they have actually taken possession and begun to burrow, theysoon 
leave these parts and, making for the head, establish themselves about the nose and 
the ears. Inits early stage the burrows, when sought for, can be easily seen, but 
the obstruction caused by the numerous hairs makes them more tortuous and often 
interrupted. As the mites increase, so do the burrows and the itching, and the cat 
scratches itself and tears the skin. Then the hairs fall off, and the parts around the 
eyes, nose, and ears become covered with hard crusts spread over and adhering to 
the suffering parts. The time that the mischief takes to reach this stage varies 
according to the age, strength, and condition of the cat. As arule, the young and 
strong resist longer than the old and feeble. In them by the twentieth or thirtieth 
day it may have spread over the head, ears, nose, shoulders, and even the back 
and loins. The crust becomes harder and gray and agglutinated to the hairs, and 
under the crusts the specimens of the Sarcoptes may be found. By degrees, as the 
malady progresses and the animal becomes weaker, the skin increases in thickness, 
becomes hard, stiff, and forms voluminous folds round the neck. The swelling 
of the tissues increases and their inflammation extends to the nostrils, obstructs the 
respiration, and gives the head of the cat that elephantiasian appearance that occurs 
in the lion, and is indeed a constant character in cases of itch amon, feline animals. 
eS SE ae 
