PRURITUS. 769 



disease, and where the itching is the only abnormal although 

 attractive symptom. 



Pruritus, although in the horse often of a distinctly local 

 character, and the itching confined to particular and limited 

 areas of surface, is sometimes encountered over the greater 

 part of the body, in which conditions the causes in operation 

 for its production will most probably be found in connection 

 with or proceeding from some general disturbance. 



In all cases except the very mildest, if, on their appearance, 

 no textural changes are observable, such absence of alteration 

 is not likely to continue, seeing excoriations, swellings from 

 congestions and effusions, with papular elevations, corrugations 

 and suppurations, are almost certain to follow the excessive 

 rubbing against walls and other resisting objects, and the tear- 

 ing with the teeth. 



This excessive itching is often developed suddenly without 

 premonitory warning, and is always liable to be aggravated by 

 warmth resulting from work ; it seems also capable of being 

 influenced by conditions of the food-supply, and the humidity 

 or otherwise of the atmosphere. Many of these cases of 

 'pruritiLs in horses seem to commence as extremely simple 

 matters, but the irritation induced by the rubbing being fol- 

 lowed by the formation of lymph-papules or ecthymatous 

 pustules, with no abatement of the itching, gradually develop- 

 ing into changes of an inflammatory character in the deeper- 

 seated structures of the skin, not unfrequently leading to the 

 production of great disfigurement and permanent blemishing 

 of animals. 



Treatment. — As the causes which operate in the induction of 

 either general or local pruritus — i.e., excessive itching, as the 

 distinctive and primary phenomenon apart from textural 

 change^are hidden, and often merely matters of speculation, 

 we are necessitated m the management of such to dhect our 

 attention and eftbrts to relieve chiefly in the direction of the 

 symptoms developed. Where it may be apprehended that 

 haemal contamination is largely responsible for the cutaneous 

 irritation, of course attempts must be made to correct this 

 through elimination of noxious materials and general or special 

 restoratives. 



If the pruritus is directly resulting from such local causes as 



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