2go CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



with Castile or glycerine soap. The skin is afterwards dressed with a 

 warm solution of bicarbonate of soda, or better still with one of the 

 Hniments just mentioned in speaking of squamous eczema. 



The parts are occasionally washed with soap and boiled water, to 

 which has been added i to 2 per cent, of creolin, or with the solution 

 of bicarbonate of soda. 



Many other preparations, and certain new drugs like ichthyol, 

 anthrarobin, chrysarobin, and pyoctanin, have been recommended 

 during the last few years, but are in no wise superior to the applications 

 usually employed. 



Internal medication is useless against eczema resulting from purely 

 local causes, but in practice it is impossible to clinically distinguish 

 between such attacks and those of constitutional origin ; when the 

 disease is chronic and rebellious internal medication is always indi- 

 cated. In eczema there is no unique general treatment, and no drug can 

 lay claim to the character of a specific. Neither alkaline nor arsenical 

 preparations suit all cases. Although the former are valuable at various 

 stages of the disease, they are particularly useful in fat or obese dogs ; 

 bicarbonate of soda may be given in the food in doses of 15 to 90 grains 

 per day. Purgatives are useful in acute eczema ; under their influence 

 the cutaneous patches dry more readily. Arsenical preparations, 

 especially Fowler's solution, are valuable in the chronic forms. Fowler's 

 solution is given in doses of i to 6 drops per day. Mineral waters like 

 Vichy, Evian, or La Bourboule, may be prescribed, especially for pet dogs, 

 and can be given pure or mixed with milk. Sublimed sulphur in daily 

 doses of 15 to 30 grains, cod-liver oil and iron salts also have their use. 



Finally, it must be borne in mind that hygiene, diet, and healthy 

 surroundings have an unquestionable influence on the development of 

 eczema. Depending on its constitution or bodily condition, the patient 

 should either be confined to light nourishment, to meat, boiled milk, 

 or to various preparations of milk, or may receive a mixed diet. In 

 general the number of meals should not be diminished, but the total 

 daily nourishment should be cut down. If the patient is fat it must be 

 reduced to a minimum diet. Pastry, etc., should be forbidden. Animals 

 leading a confined life should receive regular exercise. 



In the dog good hygiene and carefully regulated diet often have at 

 least as much effect on the course of eczematous attacks as any drug. 

 Many of our patients are under unfavourable conditions for complete 

 cure, so that when their condition can only be improved it is usually 

 better to return them home, arrangements being made for steady 

 exercise, open-air life as far as possible, carefully regulated diet, and 

 every week or two internal treatment. 



