258 CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



the eruption, intra- or hypo-dermic abscesses and loss of substance of 

 the skin aggravate the eczema and leave cicatrices. Finally, the 

 animal's mode of life plays a certain part ; in lapdogs eczema is more 

 rebellious, and relapses more frequent than in others. 



The treatment of eczema is complex. Many practitioners confine 

 themselves to local treatment, but in most patients durable results 

 can only be obtained by internal medication, and change in the method 

 of feeding. 



The local treatment of acute eczema is best commenced as follows: — 

 The hair should be clipped from the diseased surface, and if the eczema 

 is extensive and generalised the animal should be shaved ; the skin is 

 next washed with soap and water, or with warm boric solution, dried 

 carefully, and afterwards protected as far as possible from irritation ; 

 in pet dogs the rug usually may require to be removed, and in no case 

 should a collar be used if an area of eczema is developed on the skin of 

 the neck. 



In moist eczema, once the diseased surfaces are cleansed and dis- 

 infected the best local treatment usually consists in topical dressing 

 with powders, with which the parts are dusted two or three times per 

 day. Among such are starch, talc, subnitrate of bismuth, oxide of 

 zinc, or a mixture of these substances. In pet dogs these powders 

 may be slightly perfumed, and rice powder substituted for starch. 



If the skin irritation is very acute, warm lotions containing chloral 

 hydrate, or 3 to 6 per cent, bicarbonate of soda solution ; or, again, very 

 dilute alcohol, with the addition of i per cent, of carbolic acid, may be 

 used ; and the parts afterwards dressed with a preparation of glycerine, 

 or an ointment containing the same proportion of carbolic acid. In 

 the limbs, and other regions which the animal can reach, eczema is 

 often kept up and aggravated by licking. The diseased surface must 

 then be protected with a cotton-wool dressing. 



Slight cauterisation of the inflamed surface has sometimes been 

 practised, for which purpose either 10 per cent, nitric acid or 5 to 6 

 per cent, nitrate of silver solution may be used. The spots are swabbed 

 with one of these preparations by means of a brush. This produces a 

 superficial eschar, and leads to the formation of a thin protective crust, 

 under which the skin dries and the epidermis is renewed. 



In acute eczema especially, lotions and repeated baths are incon- 

 venient ; water irritates the skin, keeps up or even increases the 

 inflammation, and may produce fresh eruptions. 



In impetiginous eczema the pus collected under the crust ma}' be 

 gently squeezed out, the crusts themselves removed with small tampons 



