RINGWORM IN CATTLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 5

RINGWORM IN CATTLE.

Dr Purdon, of Belfast, says :—Every spring we have patients coming from country districts to the Belfast Hospital for diseases of the skin, with ringworm, on hands, arms and face, in the lastmentioned situation assuming a pustular form and being most troublesome. In all cases the answer to the question " How did you get it V has been—" Oh, I was trying to cure ringworm in a cow, and I must have been smit.' 5 Gunpowder and butter seem to be a popular remedy in this neighbourhood. As far as my limited experience goes, stall-fed animals are those attacked. Probably the close confinement and heating food in the case of milch cows, fed with grains and want of attention to cleanliness are the chief causes. The disease is contagious, characterised both in man and beast by the development of circular patches, and, if on a part covered by hairs, these fall out. The disease lis due to the presence of a parasitic fungus, trichophyton tonsurans. The favourite, if not exclusive, i seat of the parasitic growth is in the J hair and hair follicles The patch | of " ringworm " extends in a centrifugal manner, with greater or h?S3* rapidity. Human beings, as well as the lower animals, such as the mouse, cat, dog, calf and horse are subject to ringworm. I have seen examples in all those named. Various methods of treatment have been adopted. The great point is to destroy the fungus at once, which may be done successf uljy, as recommended by Ladreit de Lacharriere, by means of the application of croton oil. This remedy produces inflammation and loosens the hairs, which fall out. However, it requires caution, and is not suitable for a large extent of surface.