DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 493 



seize the other. Mild cases of conjunctival ophthalmitis are re- 

 moved by some mild astringent application. The eye should be 

 well cleansed from the glutinous matter with warm milk and water, 

 when the eyelids may be everted and gently touched upon their 

 inner surface with a crayon of alum or sulphate of copper. The 

 crayons are made by whittling out a pencil from a lump of crude 

 alum or blue vitriol — the former is best — which must be afterwards 

 carefully smoothed and rounded. Nitrate of silver or lunar caus- 

 tic had best be avoided, as it is seldom necessary to resort to 

 its use, and is moreover a dangerous remedy in the hands of un- 

 professionals. 



There is an acute form of this disorder which demands active 

 constitutional treatment. It as well as the other diseases of the 

 visual organ should be treated only by professional gentlemen. 



Cataract. — Prescription No. 29 is used in Europe to promote the 

 absorption of cataract. It may be used without fear, and in a lim- 

 ited percentage answers all the purposes of an operation ; but it 

 cannot be applied with absolute certainty of success, and is more- 

 over utterly useless in cataracts of long standing. These must be 

 operated upon by a skillful oculist ; and be certain that he is 

 skz7I/ul. 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



Alopecia. Fallmg out of the Hair. — The causes for the falling 

 of the hair are defective development of, and defective circulation 

 in the formative organs. The remote causes are, hereditary pe- 

 culiarity, age, termination of acute diseases, excess of venery in 

 the dog, ill nourishment, and certain diseases of the skin. 



Except in the latter case, or where senility is the cause, we may 

 remedy by giving proper nourishment, and the application of 20 or 

 31, as directed. 



Mange. — This is a term applied promiscuously to all diseases 

 which affect the integument of the dog. It is, however, properly 

 used only when applied to the first of the following. 



Scabies Canina, Scab Mafjge, Canine Itch. — This, like the 

 " old Scotch fiddle " that affects the human race, is dependent upon 

 a minute insect, which finds its way beneath the surface of the 

 cuticle and there breeds and disseminates itself to the other parts. 



