676 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



Lice, fleas, etc., and in fact everything which comes in 

 contact with the skin and sets a dog to scratching, are 

 numbered among the local causes of eczema. It is also 

 induced by heat and moisture; hence, long-haired dogs 

 almost always suffer more or less from it in hot weather. 

 Even water will provoke it if entered too often. . Again, 

 there are a variety of medicines which, when applied to the 

 skin, bring out an eczematous eruption. Nearly all stimu- 

 lating liniments contain ammonia, turpentine, or arnica, 

 which will do this; so also will kerosene-oil. Hunting dogs, 

 which are much in their kennels and only taken out occa- 

 sionally, and then given hard runs, during which they 

 sweat excesssively, are quite likely to have eczema. 



Of constitutional causes which may give rise to eczema, 

 there are many; but, unfortunately, they are not so well 

 understood as the local ones already described. Probably 

 to errors in feeding is the disease most often due. Since 

 redeemed from his wild state the dog has been fed on a diet 

 into which vegetables and starchy foods have entered 

 largely. Perhaps if the proper proportion of them and 

 of meat could be determined, a mixed diet would be found 

 best suited to him; but, as the result of experience, it is 

 evident that his diet should contain an excess of meat. 

 When such is not the case, we find him, as a rule, showing 

 in some way its need. 



When fed largely on starchy foods, some dogs, it is true, 

 seem to keep in good condition, but many others on such a 

 diet sooner or later show that they are below the standard 

 of health. They are not only less strong and enduring, but 

 are generally the victims of some ailment, and usually of 

 the digestive system. Why those organs are most often 

 affected it is not difficult to understand. While starchy 

 foods may furnish nearly all the elements necessary to sup- 

 ply tissue waste and keep active the vital processes, many 

 of them are not rich in such, and with most of them too 

 large quantities must be eaten to obtain all the essentials to 

 support nutrition. To make clear the meaning of this 

 statement we will instance one of man' s popular foods and 



