The mite producing this most nearly resembles the itch-mite of man, and as it is propagated by eggs, and transmitted by contact, direct or indirect, there seems nothing impossible in the idea of stamping out this chief "enemy to the comfort of a brave spaniel," if only we could get every clog owner to be careful and clean. There is much virtue in an "if;" but at least we can learn from the facts about the mange-mite that we need not harbor it in our own kennels, and by stamping it out there, lessen it generally. Dirt unquestionably harbors and encourages mange, although it does not produce it; left undisturbed by cleansing processes, the pests breed and multiply with great rapidity.

When the mite reaches the dog, it burrows into the skin; the process, and also a poisonous fluid discharged by the creature, causes intolerable itching, and to relieve this the dog scratches, with the result that the skin is broken, small red points appear, and these become pustular and discharge a fluid which dries or crusts and forms a scab; the hair falls off. The multiplication of the original cause of the evil is rapid, and, left unchecked, the whole surface of the body soon becomes involved, while the poor dog is an object of pity, and from want of rest and other causes sinks into a helpless condition. This state is often called virulent or scabby mange, and presents many of the characteristics of Blotch. The skin is harsh, dry, and rough, until small pimples appear, when therefrom oozes a purulent matter, forming scabs, which mat the hair together, and bring it off in patches as the dog rubs or scratches himself. The back, breast, and inside of the thighs are generally the first places attacked, and every crease and wrinkle in the skin becomes inflamed and moist with the irritating discharge. If the disease is left unchecked, it soon extends over the whole body, reducing the dog to a deplorable condition, disgusting to all who see him and intolerable to himself. These are severe and extreme eases. In others a dry, scurfy mange exists, marked by little red spots, and confined to the joints of the legs, over the eyes, the flaps of the ears, etc.: and this may exist for some time without other damage than causing the dog great uneasiness and injury to his appearance by partially destroying the hair and robbing it of its natural glossy appearance.

The first thing to be done with a mangy dog is to wash him. Let him have a good sousing and scrubbing with a good soap and water, "hottish rather but not so boiling as to turn him red;" dry well with a soft cloth, which must immediately be boiled, and then dress him with one or the other of the several well known mange cures. Whatever you use, see that it is applied thoroughly; see that it reaches the skin where the mites are, and is not merely left on the hair. Chronic cases of mange often take a month or two to cure. Sulphur is given as an internal remedy for mange, but it is not of any use, in mange.

Follicular Mango is due to another mite (Demodex folloculorum), very different in appearance from the other (Saroptes), which are short and thick, whereas this, the Demodex, is elongated, and with a long, obtuse tail. These parasites differ in their habits, the Demodex living in the hair-follicles, and burrowing deep under the skin in the sebaceous gland that supplies the unctous matter to protect the skin and keep it soft. The depth to which the Demodex burrows renders Follicular Mange much lets easy of transmission between dogs; but it also makes a cure much more difficult, as the parasites are hard to reach. This mite is identical with a parasite found in the human skin causing some disfiguration of the face, but further than that it does no harm until transferred to the dog, when it causes a most repulsive disease, and one very difficult to •radicate.

Some few years ago Mr. Wm. Hunting, F.R.S.V.S., in conjunction with Professor Duguld, made a series of investigations and experiments in elucidation of this disease, and the following description of symptoms and the diagnosis are from an article by the former gentleman, which appeared in the Veterinary Journal, and afterward in pamphlet form:

"The symptoms of the disease are seldom seen in the first stages; they consist merely of circumscribed spots from which the hair falls, and upon which are noticeable a few small pimples. These patches extend rapidly, and fresh ones appear on other parts. Any portion of the skin may be affected, but the head, legs, belly, and sides, are usually the seat of the disease. The affected places are almost hairless, and what hair remains is easily pulled out; small pimples and pustules stud the surface, the latter varying in size from a pin's head to that of a pea. The confluence of the pustules, and the discharge of their contents, give rise to scabs; these crack and bleed, and so produce a most repulsive appearance. In white-haired dogs the skin is red; in all it is extremely hot, and emits an unpleasant odor. The irritation does not excite much scratching, but the dog frequently shakes himself. More pain than itshing seems to accompany the disease. In cases where the whole body is affected loss of condition is most marked; and in cold weather the almost total loss of hair may cause death, if the animal be not kept in a warm place. This stage, too, is always accompanied by ravenous appetite, due, probably, to the rapid loss of animal heat.

Diagnosis

In white clogs the color of the skin may cause the disease to be mistaken for 'Red Mange' or 'Eczema.' The circumscribed spots in the first stages may he confounded with some forms of Tinea, and the loss of hair and the presence of scabs seen in the fully developed disease may easily be mistaken for ordinary scabies. The pustules, the heat of the skin, and the comparatively slight itchiness shown, are, however, nearly diagnostic. Positive diagnosis can only be made by the aid of the microscope and the detection of the parasite. If we puncture one of the pustules, and mix its contents on a slide with a little water, the acari are easily discovered. I have found as many as thirty to one pustule. Sometimes we may detect them on the root of a hair removed from an affected spot. With a low power, the parasites somewhat resemble sprats or minnows, but a higher power shows them to consist of a head and body, which latter terminates in a long and obtusely pointed tail. They are furnished with six or eight legs situated on the anterior part of the body, three or four on each side. The head consists of two antennse and a median proboscis, all of which are capable of being moved forward or backward. The legs consist of three segments. The movements of the creatures are not often seen, and are very slow. The parasite measures about one-hundredth of an inch in length by one five-hundredth in breadth."

"In regard to treatment, Fleming, in "Veterinary Sanitary Science, says "The situation of the Demodex renders it almost inaccessible to parasitical remedies; the disease it engenders is therefore looked upon as extremely troublesome, and, in the majority of cases, almost beyond a cure. Often, when it is believed to be extinguished, it reappears in all its virulence in one or two months. Nevertheless, Zurn asserts that he has frequently succeeded with an ointment composed of 1 part of benzine to 4 parts of lard. Zundel states that the balsam of Peru has often yielded good results when the malady has not been of too long duration; he has employed it dissolved in alcohol (1 to 30)."

Symptoms Of Scaroptic Mange

In pronounced cases this disease is easily recognizable, but in the initial stages, when the hair is not much lost or broken, if complicated with eczema - which is not uncommon - diagnosis is more difficult.

The first symptom is that of great irritation of the affected parts, especially on the application of heat.

The symptoms first appear in the form of small red spots, which may be seen on the head, close to the muzzle, the outside of the roots of the ears, round the eyes and neck, the bottom part of the chest, the elbows, the soft skin of the stomach, behind the thighs and the feet.

As a matter of fact, it may appear on any part of the body. The small red spots resemble flea bites on the human skin. These red spots are more noticeable when situated on the stomach or inside the thighs.

Little blisters appear in place of the red spots, and if they are in large numbers and burst open sores appear.

Injury will result from an inoculation of the skin with the contents of the blisters, which often occurs as a result of scratching or rubbing.

Doss of hair will follow this, and is caused partly by the scratching and partly by the scaling of the crusts of the skin caused by the small blisters and pimples.

Te skin then becomes thickened and hardened. In neglected cases the general health is very much affected, as the animal gets little rest, and in weakly subjects generally results fatally.

Scaroptic Mange is very readily communicated to the human subject, and is the cause in most cases of what is termed "Scabbies," and is far more common than is generally supposed. But Scaroptic Mange is comparatively easy to cure if taken in hand rightly. It is a waste of time to simply apply a mange cure to the affected parts. To complete a cure you must treat your dog internally as well as externally or you will never have a perfect cure.

Here is where I should try Eberhart's Skin Remedy - and for the blood, use internally, the White Sulphur, as advised for Eczema. (See Eczema).