10 CIRCULAR 338, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



follow in some cases. In general, treatment should be begun early. 

 The disease is more curable in the depilatory and localized cases than 

 in the pustular and generalized cases. 



The animal should be clipped before treatment is begun. Of the 

 treatments which have been recommended, one which has the merit 

 of simplicity and safety and is recommended as very effective, con- 

 sists in the daily application of castor oil to and around the diseased 

 areas. Whatever is used should be throroughly rubbed into the skin, 

 not neglecting its application between the toes if needed. Liquid 

 oil of tar has given good results in some cases and failed in others. 

 Another treatment consists in the application to one fourth of the 

 body daily, as directed for sarcoptic mange, of an ointment consist- 

 ing of liquid phenol 1 part, camphor 2 parts, and white petrolatum 6 

 parts, the dog being bathed on the fifth day in a 2-percent solution 

 of sulphurated potassa, and the treatment begun again the following 

 day and continued as long as necessary. Another treatment which 

 is variously recommended as a cure for demodectic mange or for 

 the inflammation of the skin accompanying it, consists in the daily 

 application of Lassar's paste, which is salicylic acid 2 parts, starch 

 24 parts, zinc oxide 24 parts, and white petrolatum 50 parts. Another 

 treatment consists in the use of a 1- to 5-percent formaldehyde solu- 

 tion; the dog is dipped in this or liberally sponged with it, the dog's 

 eyes being protected, and the animal then coated with sulphur oint- 

 ment or petrolatum. This treatment is repeated every 3 or 4 days 

 until 4 or 5 treatments have been given, the ointment being removed 

 before each formaldehyde bath. One objection to the use of for- 

 maldehyde is that it is painful, having a sting comparable to that of 

 the formic acid of an ant bite. A treatment which has been recom- 

 mended widely consists in the use, once a week, of the following 

 preparation: Kerosene 8 ounces, raw linseed oil 8 ounces, carbolic acid 

 1 ounce, oil of tar 1 ounce, and sulphur one-fourth pound; this is 

 applied with mild rubbing. Good results have been reported in 

 some cases of demodectic mange following the daily application of 

 a 1-percent solution of rotenone. The solution is made up by dis- 

 solving 1 gram of rotenone in 10 cubic centimeters of acetone and 

 then adding 50 cubic centimeters of alcohol and 40 cubic centimeters 

 of distilled water. The solution should be shaken before use. 



In connection with any medicinal treatment, the supplementary 

 measures noted under the subject of sarcoptic mange should be used. 

 In addition, the treatment of the pustular type of demodectic mange 

 should be begun by opening the pustules with a sharp knife and 

 squeezing out the pus. Under some conditions it has been recom- 

 mended that the skin be scarified and treated with tincture of iodine, 

 but this procedure should be left to the judgment of the veterinarian 

 and carried out by him. Dogs are fairly susceptible to iodine poison- 

 ing. The pustular stage of mange is said to be greatly benefited in 

 some cases by the injection of autogenous bacterins or stock poly- 

 valent bacterins of streptococcic and staphylococcic bacteria of 

 strains isolated from cases of demodectic mange, but the use of these 

 bacterins should be left to the veterinarian. Arsenic, in the form of 

 Fowler's solution, and sulphur are sometimes given internally for 

 their effects on the system. Violet rays and even X-rays have been 

 used in demodectic mange, and good results reported in some cases. 



