ABSTRAC1S AND REPORT.

THE TREATMENT OF DEMODECTIC MANGE IN THE DOG.

DUPAS believes that in alcohol of 95 per cent. strength he has discovered an apfJlication superior to any other hitherto recommended for the treatment of demodectic mange. He has only treated two cases, but the first had been aff, cted for some months and the second for several weeks.

The first animal was a seven months old hound which had been suffering from skm disease for about three months. At the onset the disease assumed the appearance of a reddish patch around the left eye, whence it gradually ex:ended to numerous other parts of the body, causing intense pruritus and resistmg careful treatment, frequent washing, and the application of boric SOlllt on.

Symptollls.-The head was almost completely bare of hair, the skin was very rt d, thickened, wrmkled, cedematous, and showed numerous ridges on which could be detected little VIOlet-coloured papules or acne-like spots. The neck, Sides of the chest, belly, and limbs, especially on their internal surface, were throughout of a rose red colour, which became deeper in tint when the animal approached a fire, for example. The coat was patchy in places, but the skin, although somewhat wrinkled, was still supple and showed neither crusts nor vesicles.

Diagnosis.-From these various symptoms the author concluded that the animal was suffering from two cutaneous diseases at the same time, the one very grave in character and of a parasitic nature, affecting the head, apparently due to demodex folliculorum, and the other of a benign character and non­parasitic, extending over the anterior parts of the trunk and limbs.

The diagnOSIs was confirmed by microscopic examination, which revealed in the b:ood-~tained serosity from the papules and in the whitish pus from the pustules enormous numbers of the demodex. The owner was informed of the extreme gravity of the disease about the head, and of its almost incurable character, but, yielding to repeated requests, Dupas undertook treatment.

The {Jrominences and acne-like spots were strongly compressed in order to expel the serosity and pus. Then the papules and pustules were deeply s( raped with a scalpel, producing a certain number of little dermic woundo. ThiS having been effected, the skin was saturated with alcohol by means of a tampon of cotton wool and the fluid vigorously rubbed in, care being taken t() avoid the animal's eyes. The first contact of the fluid with the erosions callses very active irritation, and violent struggling on the part of the dog.

When next seen the animal appeared to have distinctly improved. The head was less red, the ridges less prominent and the acne-ltke spots were much Ie'S numerous, while some had disappeared and were replaced by small, biackish, adherent crusts. Moreover, the itching was very much less. Newrtheless demodex was found in almost all parts.

Friction with alcohol was continued every day. On 13th November the hair was again beginning to grow in the least

aff cted parts. that is, the top of the head,' the forehead, and the rIght jaw. Tile animal no longer scratched its head.

Encouraged by this partial success, the treatment was continued with energy. Every acne like spot which appeared was squeezed, scraped, and ca·,terIsed with alcohol. The action appeared almost to be speCific, for, forty-eIght hours after the application, the parasitic centre had entirely dl,appeared. Thanks to the constant and intelligent carrying out of the treatment by the owner, the condition gradually improved.

ABSTRACTS AND REPORT.

By the end of November the lips, eyelids, and nose were again covered by hair. The left cheek alone showed cedematous spots containing demodex. A further period of three weeks elapsed before these parts appeared cured. In all, six weeks had passed since the commencement of treatment.

At this time specific swellings suddenly appeared abJut the throat and neck, which formerly had shown no infection. The author feared that the disease had revived and was on the point of becoming generalIsed. This, however, proved erroneous and the new spots also yielded to the alcohol treatment.

Finally, towards the middle of January, Dupas considered that recovery was complete. The skin of the entire body was again fine, ~upple, and covered by hair, although for some time the left cheek, which had been most severely attacked, remained a little bare. No parasites could be found in scrapings from the epidermis or dermis, but as a measure of precaution the applications of alcohol were continued for another week.

Since this time two-and-a-half years have elapsed, the patient has frequently been seen and recovery appears absolute. There has never been any suggestion of relapse.

The second case was seen early in October 1904. It had begun about the end of September by attacking the right cheek and had successively extended to the right eye, the jaw, the lips and the nose. All these parts were denuded of hair when the animal was first seen.

Microscopic examination of the contents of some of the smaller swellings and scrapings from the bare spots revealed the presence of numerous demodex. The treatment was precisely similar to that in the former case, and a month after its commencement the hair had again grown over all the affected parts. As, however, in the preceding case, the disease suddenly appeared about the neck. The treatment was extended to these spots and finally towards the end of November recovery was complete. The disease has not since recurred. Dupas recommends proceeding as follows :-

Preparation of the skin. After thoroughly cleansing the diseased area with ordinary soap and water containing 2 per cent. of alcohol, the acne-like spots should be compressed between the fingers so as to evacuate the contents. The papules and the thickest parts of the skin should be squeezed and scraped with a bistoury or with a scalpel until the superficial layers are removed.

Application of alcohol. The alcohol is applied by means of a tampon of cotton wool or of flannel. It should be used freely and rubbed in for some time, care being taken to extend the dressing to the healthy surrounding area. The patient should be washed during the course of treatment. Applications of alcohol are repeated daily, after evacuation of the little abscesses and papules. The treatment is assisted by the internal administration of Fowler's solution of arsenic. (Dupas, Rec. de MM. Vet., 30th September 1906, p. 457·)

IMMUNISATION AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS.

CONSIDERING the numerous investigations undertaken to discover a method of immunisation against tuberculosis, it is perhaps desirable shortly to describe the position of the question at the present moment, both as regards vaccination and the treatment of the disease by serum.

Since Villemin's experiments regarding the inoculability and contagious character of tuberculosis, and the discovery of the specific bacillus by Koch, science has made rapid progress under the influence of Pasteur and his