The sarcoptic mange is an artificial eczema occasioned in the dog by two exciting causes; one the irritation of an insect infesting the skin (Sarcoptes Canis); the other the scratching of the animal in consequence of its presence.

This insect, the Acarus, an animal parasite, is maintained by the nourishment it draws from the skin. The male acarus is much the smaller, remains in short burrows or vesicles, while the female tunnels the skin in long canals. The course of the latter is to seek a furrow on the surface, then to attach itself, and by means of its jaws penetrate the outer skin or cuticle, until it reaches the deeper and softer layers where it finds its nourishment. It continues to burrow, laying one egg after another and blocking up the passage with them. A young acarus is developed from, the egg in about two weeks, and the number of eggs one insect lays is near fifty. This production goes on continuously until the female dies, which is generally in three or four months.

The young acari as soon as developed scamper over the surface, bore quickly beneath, and occasion the most intolerable itching. Around the furrows form first small pimples, which change to vesicles and pustules; from them, bloody matter exudes, which dries and produces thick, dark crusts.

The itching caused by the insects on the surface of the superficial layers of the skin incites scratching; the furrows are then opened and the acari set free. The original eruption is destroyed, but eczema displaces it, accompanied by the itching and irritation which invariably attends it; then the disease increases in extent and intensity as it progresses.

Diagnosis

By a careful study of the eruption a diagnosis ought easily to be reached, and less difficulty will be experienced in the earlier than in the later stages. The condition of the animal and manner of attack will weigh somewhat, as eczema more commonly occurs in debilitated subjects. If other dogs in the same kennel are similarly affected, it would suggest contagion.

Vesicles in sarcoptic mange predominate over any other form of eruption at first; they occur alone and are not grouped together as in eczema; again they are pointed, not flat or rounded like those of the last named disease.

After eczema has been produced by scratching, the difficulty of diagnosis is increased, but only slightly so, for new vesicles will constantly appear on previously unaffected skin.

Treatment

While the exciting cause of sarcoptic mange is acari, uncleanliness certainly exerts a predisposing influence, and this fact should impress itself when treatment is undertaken. When satisfied a dog has the disease under consideration, he should at once be removed from his kennel, his bedding burned, and hot lime impregnated with carbolic acid be plentifully used in every part, crack, and crevice of the building. This precautionary treatment should be renewed at intervals of every few days until the animal has recovered.

Remedies without number have been recommended for the cure of sar-Coptic mange; those are the best which not only destroy the insects and their eggs and cause the secondary eruptions to disappear, but as well cure the eczema which the scratching of the animal has induced. Sulphur in some form is the sovereign remedy, united with other agents as the conditions indicate.

In commencing treatment it is well to thoroughly wash the entire body in strong soap suds, rinsing carefully in rake warm water. The following ointment should then be used freely, covering both the affected and unaffected parts. -

℞ Potass. Carbonatis ℥ i Sulphur Flor. ℥ iij.

Glycerinae ℥ vi.

Ft. Mist. Sig. External.

This preparation will immediately destroy the acari.

The balsam pern is another active agent in this disease, and may be used with the sulphur as follows. -

℞ Sulphur Flor.

Bals-Peru aa ℥ as.

Adepis ℥ ij.

Ft. Ungt Sig. External.

This ointment should be applied three times a day for a week and then washed off.

Liquid storax and lard one part to two, is a favorite mixture with some. Naphthol is a very active agent and is commonly combined as follows. -

℞ Naphtholis ℥ as.

Sapo. Viridis ℥ ij.

Adepis ℥ viij.

Ft. Ungt. Sig. External.

The entire body of the dog should be freely rubbed with this ointment once daily for two or three days, and then thoroughly washed.

In some breeds of dogs the skin is easily irritated; for them, and for house pets on which the use of ointments would be especially unpleasant to their owners, a solution may be made as follows: - flowers of sulphur two pounds; unslacked lime one pound; water two gallons; toll down to five quarts and filter, or allow it to stand until precipitated, and then pour off for use the clear fluid. This should be applied freely to the entire body and gently rubbed into the parts more affected.

Probably much less time than a week will be occupied in destroying the acari; if eczema remains, appropriate treatment should be instituted as advised elsewhere for that disease.

It should be remembered that while sarcoptic mange is purely a local affection, in nowise dependent upon constitutional disturbances; yet the annoyance caused by the itching, the loss of sleep, the effect upon the nervous system, etc., will if persistent, very probably cause derangements, which will in turn result in debility and an impairment of the general health.