292 CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



where inflammation is more intense, granulations have developed, rising 

 a few millimetres above the level of the skin, and secreting a sero- 

 sanguinolent liquid, which, together with the epidermal cells, etc., 

 forms a material gluing together the hairs surrounding the patch. 

 The patch itself is encircled by a band of skin covered with vesicles 

 resulting from a fresh attack. Sensation is not specially acute at any 

 point, but there is intense pruritus, which the animal betrays by biting 

 or continually rubbing the parts. Despite the use of a cradle it still 

 attempts to bite, and has several times rubbed the diseased spots, 

 causing them to bleed. There is no lameness. 



The patch on the near fore-limb is less bare than the preceding ; its 

 upper part is becoming dry, but its lower still discharges. At first sight 

 the disease recalls horse-pox, or a recent attack of grease, but the offen- 

 sive odour and the vegetations characteristic of the latter are absent. 

 Examined more closely, this surface shows the same characters as the 

 patch on the right hock. There is a certain degree of itching and of 

 local swelling, but no lameness. 



The third patch occupies the entire space between the elbows and 

 the upper internal surface of both fore-limbs. It is covered with pale 

 yellow, thin, sticky crusts, while the skin is swollen, infiltrated, and 

 shows a series of broad folds separated by depressions in which secre- 

 tion is abundant. Like the two others, this patch is the seat of 

 extreme pruritus. The continuous movement of the limbs keeps up 

 acute inflammation. 



The general condition is good. The principal functions are normal. 



The characters of the patches, the presence of isolated vesicles 

 around them, their almost simultaneous appearance in several separate 

 spots, and their mode of development, leave little doubt as to the dia- 

 gnosis. The negative result of inoculation with the exudate clearly 

 shows the condition to be moist eczema. 



Treatment consisted in clipping away the hair from around the 

 patches on the limbs, disinfecting the surfaces with warm creolin 

 solution, drying, and applying a powder composed of four parts starch 

 and one part oxide of zinc ; finally, administering internally sulphate 

 and bicarbonate of soda. 



Considerable improvement was noted from the third day. The 

 patch on the near fore-limb discharged less, except under the pastern, 

 where in consequence of movement the granulations had been torn 

 through. In the off hind limb the disease had extended to the lower 

 portion of the canon-bone and fetlock, developing with great rapidity ; 

 eruption, vesiculation, and rupture of the vesicles occurring in twenty- 

 four to forty-eight hours. The patch between the elbows was much 



