164 THE DISEASES OF THE HOUSE. 



Although purely a skin disease, horses of sluggish habits 

 and lymphatic temperaments are more liable to it than 

 others, and it may be hereditary. It occurs chiefly about 

 the flexures or joints, especially the carpal and tarsal, 

 causing lameness, mallenders of the fore leg and sallend- 

 ers of the hind. It also occurs over the tail and the neck, 

 near the mane. It is disposed to spread, but not rapidly. 

 The dry, light-colored scales are usually deepest in the 

 center of the patches. The patches vary much in size. 

 There is some itching, and sometimes, in chronic cases, 

 cracks and suppuration also. The disease is aggravated 

 by dirt, moisture, sudden atmospheric changes, and in- 

 appropriate food. 



Remedy. — Mild purgatives. Soak scales in a solution 

 of soda or potassium carbonate, followed by a coat of 

 iodine. Oil of mercury, weak ointments of biniodide of 

 mercury or chrysophanic acid are useful. Wood tar oils 

 and oil of cade alternated with the foregoing in chronic 

 cases. Alkalies, sulphites, phosphorus, arsenic internally. 

 A triple compound of arsenic, iodine, and mercury is 

 given by Professor Williams. Green and oleaginous food, 

 with a liberal supply of linseed in it. Occasional diuretic. 



For doses, see pages 13 to 29. 



ELEPHANTIASIS (CHRONIC WEED, DERMAL 

 AND SUBDERMAL HYPERTROPHY), 



A thick, dark, wrinkled, tuberculate, insensible condi- 

 tion of the skin, is caused by excess of skin development. 

 It usually involves the larger part of an entire limb, and 

 is frequently the result of repeated attacks of inflammation 

 of the lymphatic vessels of that limb, growing worse with 

 each attack. It may follow one attack of lymphangitis 

 (inflammation of the lymphatic glands). It is dry, leather- 

 like, sometimes scaly, falls into folds, and in chronic cases 

 may crack and suppurate. It causes much alteration of 

 the limb, deformity, and impairment of motion. As the 



