ECZEMA. 751 



exuded from the congested vessels of the papillary layer of 

 the true skin. When these vesicles rupture, and their con- 

 tents are dissipated, Ave may have the deeper-seated structures, 

 as the rete, exposed, and a considerable ichorous discharge. 



In the severer forms, the cell-proliferation and infiltration is 

 not confined to the rete or epidermis, but extends to the struc- 

 ture of the corium, amongst which the inflammatory exuda- 

 tion may result in new-formations and true hypertrophy of the 

 papillary structures. 



Of this typical catarrhal inflammation of the skin, four 

 tolerably distinct varieties may be noted, distinguished so far 

 from each other by tolerably well-marked clinical features: 

 (1) Eczema simplex, mild, usually localized, and with few or 

 no symptoms of general disturbance. (2) E. ruhrum, more 

 general in distribution, more truly inflammatory, both as to 

 local phenomena and general disturbance. (3) E. impeti- 

 genodes, inflammatory action with pus-formation ; this latter 

 often in excess of apparent inflammatory action. (4) E. 

 chronicum or squamosum, characterized by an abundant fur- 

 furaceous shedding of epidermic scales. 



Symptoms. — Eczema, in all these forms, may occur in any 

 part of the body, but is most frequently observed over the 

 superior parts of the neck and trunk, over the quarters and 

 around some of the natural orifices. 



Typical cases may exhibit all the changes and gradations 

 from erythematous congestion, papulation, vesiculation, on to 

 pus-formation and shedding of epidermic scales. In others, 

 certain of these recognised stages may be missed or left out, 

 and chronicity may be exhibited at any period. The con- 

 dition of vesiculation is not often observed in the horse, unless 

 very carefully looked for, the hairy covering obscuring these 

 early changes. The first indication of disturbance is most 

 probably local irritation and itching, with an open state of 

 the coat ; while on passing the hand over the parts affected, 

 the small tear-like masses, in separate clusters or elevations, 

 will give the impression of not uniform and unbroken, but rather 

 of scattered or more closely-set points of concreted exudation. 

 These small elevated masses of hardened, serous fluid, when 

 detached by rubbing, leave a slightly excoriated surface, which 

 exudes a serous or sero-purulent fluid itself, hardening into 



