462 Veterinary Medicine. 



and maintained by filth on the skin and in the air of the stable 

 and hence sponging:, currying, brushing, rubbing, are directly 

 therapeutic. Yet care must be taken to avoid irritation where 

 the skin is tender. In the sensitive heels of the horse congestion, 

 chaps, and stocking are often determined by washing in ice cold 

 water and leaving to dry uncovered, in a draught of air, or by 

 washing with common laundry soap having alkali in excess. 

 Even tar soap will sometimes keep up the trouble in a specially 

 sensitive skin. Apart from such exceptional conditions, thorough 

 grooming is commendable, not only in cleaning the skin, but in 

 improving its circulation and nutrition. 



Diuretics are often beneficial in eliminating from the system 

 the irritant products generated from disorders in sanguification, 

 digestion, urinary secretion and hepatic function, as well as those 

 that are derived from the cutaneous disorder. They tend further 

 to reduce any exi.sting fever, and to cool and relieve the burning 

 integument. The alkaline diuretics are often very useful. 



Purgatives act in a .similar way and are especially indicated 

 in cases due to ingested irritants, and in such as depend on 

 morbid products of gastro-intestinal or hepatic disorder. In 

 many acute attacks these may be said to be almost specific in 

 their action as in urticaria, and in the eruptions due to distillery 

 products or green food. 



Tonics are often called for to correct dyspepsias, to improve 

 the general health and vigor, the sanguification and nutrition in 

 weak and debilitated conditions. Iron, cod liver oil, bitters, 

 quinia, quassia, calumba, gentian, nux, are often of value in 

 such cases. 



Alteratives. Arsenic may be .said to act as a tonic with a 

 special tendency toward the skin where it affects the epidermis 

 and epidermic products and is applicable to many subacute and 

 chronic disorders, as p.soriasis, acne, dry eczema, and pemphigus. 

 It has been further supposed to be most useful in superficial 

 lesions, and in those due to a neurotic origin, from the known 

 operation of arsenic on the nerves. It is little suited to acute 

 skin diseases, and though often valuable is not to be trusted as 

 universally applicable. 



Sulphur is often useful as a laxative, but also as a stimulant 

 to the cutaneous secretions when these are impaired. 



