160 THE DISEASES OE THE HORSE. 



grains; water 1 ounce. Sulphur iodide and wood tar 

 oils are alternated night and morning when the skin in 

 chronic cases is much thickened. 

 For doses, see pages 13 to 29. 



ECZEMA (CUTANEOUS CATARRH), 



Of which there are four varieties, seems to be an inflam- 

 mation of the superficial layers of the skin, accompanied 

 by pimples, vesicles, or pustules, itching, and sometimes 

 scales and partial baldness. It is one of the commonest 

 skin diseases, and is liable to be confounded with other 

 diseases of its class, especially itch and erysipelas. It is 

 exudative or moist, and is caused apparently by anything 

 that disturbs the healthy action of the skin. It is the 

 result sometimes perhaps of nerve paralysis. It is dis- 

 posed to appear in successive crops, and is usually inde- 

 pendent. It is most frequent over the neck, trunk, quar- 

 ters and around some of the orifices. The eruptive dis- 

 charges, sometimes sero-purulent, are disposed to collect 

 in crusts, which, if rubbed, aggravate and prolong the 

 disease. 



Remedy, — Simple form : Laxative, cooling diet. Pre- 

 vent biting and rubbing. Clip long hair. As vesicles 

 dry, apply zinc oxide and kaolin, alternated with tar oil. 

 Where discharges are profuse and skin puffy, apply as- 

 tringents dry ; zinc oxide, mixed with 6 or 8 parts kaolin 

 or starch, or dust surfaces with bismuth ternitrate. 



More inflammatory and moist form : Cleanse with soap 

 and water. Soak repeatedly with mercurous oxide wash, 

 and dress with zinc oxide ointment. Lead acetate with 

 glycerine and water for the inflammatory weeping stages. 

 Stronger lead lotions, with chloroform or laudanum, or 

 both, for dry, itching surfaces. Where spots are limited, 

 paint with 2 grains silver nitrate to ounce of water, or 

 water and glycerine. Laxatives, salines, cooling diet for 

 hot skin and fever. 



