CHAPTER XXI 



SKIN DISEASES, ETC. 



ECZEMA. 



THIS is an exceedingly troublesome complaint, and is of 

 fairly frequent occurrence in the horse. It is a non- 

 communicable malady, and one which has its origin in 

 impairment of the nervous and digestive functions. 



The congested condition of the skin, unless arising from 

 causes extrinsic, is but the outward manifestation of a similar 

 condition existing within the economy. 



Whilst the precise nature of these changes may be difticult 

 of determination, it will occasionally be found that the animal 

 thus affected has been suffering from a disordered condition of 

 the liver, probably through a diet too stimulating in its nature. 

 Some horses appear to be distinctly predisposed to eczema 

 (heredity). Chemical, mechanical, and parasitical agents are, 

 of course, capable of exciting an eczematous eruption. The 

 latter cause has been dealt with under the heading'of parasites 

 (mange). 



Symptoms. — This is preceded by redness (not seen in 

 pigmented parts), the appearance of minute vesicles (blisters), 

 followed by the rupture of these and subsequent desiccation of 

 their contents upon the surface of the inflamed area. Any 



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