Mange is a skin disease caused by parasitic mites. This disease was highly contagious and affected a large portion of animals involved in the First World War. Horses were extremely susceptible due to their close proximity during transportation and through their efforts on the Front. Two forms of mange affected the horse and mule: the dry form “produced by insects which live beneath the skin” or the moist form in which they are “found on the surface of the skin.”[i] A manual issued to veterinary personnel in 1908 outlines the symptoms of Mange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

                 

               It became increasingly apparent that veterinarians needed to become more efficient at preventing and treating mange in order to maintain the health of the horse and their contributions to the war effort. Blenkinsop and Rainey note “the treatment of mange on a large scale by means of calcium sulphide solution. First by hand and later in dipping baths, originated from the suggestions of Captain Perry, AVC who came from Canada, and Captain Evans of the CAVC.”[ii] A great influx in the number of mange cases occurred between the years 1915 to 1916 when the Allied force were continuously strengthening their efforts through quantitative means. From April 1917 onward, the number of incidents of mange decreased from 3.8 percent of animals infected to .4 percent at the end of the war.[iii] In 1917, 16,624 animals were treated for mange. Organization within the Corps was critical to house, feed and treat this large lot of animals.

 

              Those horses being treated for mange were dipped in a mixture of Lime Sulphur and water, “2 or 3 times weekly [over] three to seven weeks, according to the extent of the disease.”[iv] This technique proved to be more efficient then the spraying technique. Therefore, one can conclude that veterinarians were continuously innovating to provide the most efficient means of treatment to animals on a large scale with what resources they were given. The dip tank meant that less of the treatment was wasted and therefore, veterinarians were able to efficiently remount horses on a large scale.

Insert picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

                 

 

               The suggested treatments for Mange included the segregation of the infected horse, disinfection, clip off and burn the surrounding hair and dress the infected area with a solution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

                 

               Unlike Glanders, Mange was a treatable disease that became rampant as a dramatic increase in the size of Allied Forces made veterinarian’s goal seem impossible. Mange was very contagious and posed a substantial problem for the CAVC. Please look at the artifacts located in the Online Exhibits portion of this website for further information. Innovation allowed the CAVC accomplish their main goal, to reduce animal wastage throughout the war effort.[v]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[i] Prepared in the Veterinary Department, Animal Management, London: His Majesty’s Stationary Office (1908): 317.

 

[ii] Sir L.J. Blenkinsop & J.W. Rainey, History of the Great War Based on Official Documents: Veterinary Services (London: His Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1925): 104.

 

[iii] Sir L.J. Blenkinsop & J.W. Rainey, History of the Great War Based on Official Documents: Veterinary Services, 522-523.

 

[iv] Sir L.J. Blenkinsop & J.W. Rainey, History of the Great War Based on Official Documents: Veterinary Services, 522.

 

[v] Lisa Cox, “Finding Animals in History: Veterinary Artifacts and the use of Material History”, 113.