In this form of mange the hair follicles are first the seat of the disease; the skin and subcutaneous tissues are afterwards involved by the inflammation. The affection is contagious but far less so than sarcoptic mange and its occurrence is more infrequent among dogs.

Causation

While the disease is often communicated by immediate contact, certain conditions favor this form of parasite. Lack of cleanliness, damp kennels, improper food, and general neglect are baneful influences which predispose to the disorder. The spontaneous origin is however yet to be decided.

Symptoms

The hair follicles first become inflamed, and the skin in proximity is infiltrated, hot, red, and tumefied; a few pimples or papules are then to be detected. The hairs from the affected follicles soon fall out, an exudation into the sacs occurs which becomes purulent, and pustules result. The pustules which are flat and run together, soon discharge their contents and scabs are formed. These harden, crack open, and bleed slightly. The eruption extends rapidly and soon the disease can be traced in its varying stages.

The animal becomes exceedingly repulsive, not only in appearance, but emits a very offensive odor.

Pain rather than itching is characteristic of the eruption. The disease may attack any portion of the body, but it usually appears first on the head.

The appetite is rarely lessened. As the disease progresses, loss of weight, debility, and impoverishment of the general system results.

Diagnosis

When the eruption first appears a diagnosis is by no means easy, still the hot, tumefied condition of the skin, and absence of itching ought to reasonably exclude eczema and sarcoptic mange, the diseases with which follicular mange is liable to be confounded. The rapid progress of the affection, the peculiar appearance of the pustules, the crusts, and the offensive odor are diagnostic points strongly indicative. The microscope if used will remove all doubts.

Prognosis

Follicular mange is a curable disease, but the treatment must be persevered in for a long time even after recovery appears com-plete, to destroy all trace of the parasitic elements, which might possibly remain on the skin and hairs and again become active. In a very severe case probably from six to eight months must elapse before a cure can be accomplished. The hair will eventually be nearly if not entirely renewed.

Treatment

Follicular mange being solely a local affection, only remedies which act locally are needed unless symptoms of general disturbance demand constitutional treatment.

As advised in sarcoptic mange the kennel must be completely renovated. After thoroughly bathing the animal, using freely carbolic soap, the hair should be clipped and then shaved closely, exposing unaffected skin a safe distance from the eruption.

If the disease can be detected before crusts are formed, painting with the balsam peru three or four times a day would possibly be sufficient. Such good fortune in making an early diagnosis few will experience, and other treatment will be more often found essential.

When the crusts have formed it will be necessary to remove them, to favor the action of the remedies applied. The animal should be rubbed with linseed oil or common lard, a large quantity being used in the operation. The crusts will loosen in from twelve to twenty four hours. The animal should again be washed,using the domestic soft soap, and rinsing well finally.

If a house pet is under treatment and ointments are objected to, either of the following washes may be used and applied freely: sulphurous acid one part to six of water; carbolic acid two drachms, to water one pint; balsam peru one part, alcohol six parts; the lime and sulphur solution advised in sarcoptic mange is often efficacious.

Carbolic Acid And Canada Balsam

Carbolic Acid And Canada Balsam is a preparation, which if judiciously used is most admirable; the acid enters the pustules striking at the very root of the disease; the parasite is destroyed, and the balsam lessens the irritation. If the patches of eruption are but few, the remedy may be applied in equal parts by penciling each pustule with a camel's hair brush, every two or three days or even every day. When the eruption is extensive, a few patches can be touched each day until all have been acted upon. While this treatment is being pursued, an ointment of creasote, a remedy highly endorsed by many, can be used combined with other agents as follows. -

℞ Creasoti ℥ i.

Ungt. Hydrag. Nit. ℥ ij Sulphuris ℥ i.

Adepts ℥ vi.

Ft. Ungt. Sig. Apply quite freely to the diseased parts. The proportion of carbolic add to the Canada balsam might be lessened, say one to eight, and used more freely, but its efficacy would be impaired, and the stronger solution ought to be safely used without danger of absorp., tion, as it needs merely a trace applied to the centre of each pustule.