Ringworm in Cattle. 



237- 



Ringworm in Cattle. 



Ringworm is a disease which may attack any of our 

 domesticated animals, but is most frequently seen on cattle. 

 It is also transmissible to human beings. 



It evinces a decided preference for young animals, such as 

 calves and yearlings, and for stock that are in poor condition. 



The disease is due to the attack of a microscopic fungus 

 {Trichophyton tonsurans) which establishes itself at the base 

 of the hair, and this, in consequence, becomes brittle and 

 breaks off. The presence of the fungus also causes the 

 epidermis of the skin to become thickened and wrinkled. 

 In this way bare, gray, scaley patches, two inches or more 

 in diameter, appear upon the animal, especially on its head! 

 and neck, though also on other parts of its body. 



As has been indicated, animals in low condition are most 

 apt to be attacked, so that a preventive measure is to keep 

 young stock in good condition. 



The disease is not difficult to cure, the substances employed 

 for this purpose being very varied. Many of them depend! 

 for their effectiveness on so smearing the affected patches 

 that the fungus shall be smothered from want of air. In 

 order to enable any substance employed to get thoroughly 

 into contact with the disease, the part attacked should be 

 well washed with soft soap, or, better still, with a solution of 

 washing soda. Then the patch may be dressed with one 

 or other of the following : — 



{a) Train oil 5 parts, sulphur 1 part. 



{b) Lard 5 parts, sulphur 1 part. 



(c) Lard 5 parts, iodine 1 part. 



{d) Lard 5 parts, oleate of copper 1 part. 



{e) Soft soap 5 parts, sulphur 1 part. 



(/) Sulphuric acid 1 fluid drachm, glycerine 

 3 fluid drachms. 



Other substances employed, more or less successfully, are 

 paraffin oil, lime made into a paste, and mercurial ointment 

 The last-named, however, being highly poisonous, should only 

 be used under the advice of a veterinary practitioner. 



