Skin Disease Continued
Creosote, 2 drachms; linseed oil, 7 ounces; solution of potash, 1
ounce. First mix the creosote and oil, then add the solution and shake.
Better to shave the hair off around the patches.
Kennels must be kept clean with garden soap and hot water, and all
bedding burned after use. From three months to six will be needed to cure bad cases.
Mange Proper is also caused by a parasite or acarus, called the
_Sarcops canus_. Unlike eczema, this mange is spread from dog to dog
by touch or intercommunication, just as one person catches the itch
from another.
_The Symptoms_--At first these may escape attention, but there are
vesicles which the dog scratches and breaks, and thus the disease
spreads. The hair gets matted and falls off. Regions of the body most
commonly affected, head, chest, back, rump, and extremities.
There may not be much constitutional disturbance from the actual injury to the
skin, but from his suffering so much from the irritation and the want of rest the health suffers.
_Treatment_--Avoid the use of so-called disinfectants. Most of those
sold as such are simply deodorisers, and, applied to the skin, are
useless. Nor are they of much use in cleaning the kennels.
Nothing suits better for woodwork than, first, carbolic wash, and then a
thorough scrubbing with hot water and garden soap.
Some ointment must be used to the skin, and as I am writing for laymen
only I feel chary in recommending such strong ones as the green iodide
of mercury.
If you do use it mix it with twice its bulk of the compound sulphur ointment.
Do over only a part or two at a time.
The dog to be washed after three days. But the compound sulphur ointment
itself is a splendid application, and it is not dangerous.
(3) Skin Complaints from Vermin.--The treatment is obvious--get rid of
the cause.
_As their diagnosis is so difficult, whenever the dog-owner is in
doubt, make certain by treating the dog not only by local applications
but constitutionally as well_.
In addition to good diet, perfect cleanliness of coat, kennel, and all
surroundings, and the application of the ointment or oil, let the dog
have all the fresh air possible, and exercise, but never over-exciting
or too fatiguing. Then a course of arsenic seldom fails to do good.
I do not believe in beginning the exhibition of arsenic too soon. I
prefer paying my first attentions to the digestive organs and state of
the bowels.
The form of exhibition which I have found suit as well as
any is the _tasteless Liquor arsenicalis_. It is easily administered.
It ought to be given mixed with the food, as it ought to enter the
blood with the chyle from the diet.
It ought, day by day, to be gradually, not hurriedly, increased.
Symptoms of loathing of food and redness of conjunctiva call for
the cessation of its use for two or three days at least, when it is to
be recommended at the same size of dose given when left off.
There are two things which assist the arsenic, at least to go well
with it; they are, iron in some form and Virol. The latter will be
needed when there is much loss of flesh. A simple pill of sulphate of
iron and extract of liquorice may be used.
Dose of _Liquor arsenicalis_
from 1 to 6 drops _ter die_ to commence with, gradually increased to 5 to 20 drops.
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