DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 129 



secretion, through this secretion the disease could be transmitted and the 

 previously healthy animal become eczematous. 



Prognosis . —Eczema is a curable disease. An animal once attacked is 

 liable to be again affected. In longhaired dogs the disease will prove more 

 rebellious and difficult to cure. In pityriasis rubra, certain degenerative 

 changes occur in the skin, rendering a cure of that form of the disease 

 exceedingly difficult. 



Treatment. —While the internal treatment of eczema is positively essen- 

 tial in very many cases, it must not be employed indiscriminately, but 

 only after a diagnosis of the disease associated is determined beyond a 

 reasonable doubt. The connection with diseases of the internal organs 

 may not be clear at first, but careful study will ultimately develop a clue 

 sufficient to direct internal medication; until then it were wiser to depend 

 entirely upon external remedies. 



When eczema first appears especially in puppies, considerable fever is 

 associated and a laxative is indicated. It were better to increase the activ- 

 ity of the bowels by divided doses rather than administer purges. Epsom 

 salts or calcined magnesia are to be preferred; the dose of the former, two 

 teaspoonfuls, of the latter, one teaspoonful, once or twice daily until the 

 fever subsides, after which they are to be given cautiously if at all, as 

 intestinal derangement and debility will result from their prolonged use. 



In rare instances cases will be met with in which a feverish condition 

 exists for a long time, the animal being full blooded and of inflammable 

 tendency. In such cases a restricted diet and the use of laxatives is indi- 

 cated; to obviate depression iron should be combined as in the following— 



R Magnesise Sulphatis 5 i 



Ferri Sulphatis 3*i 



Acid. Sulph. Aromatici §ss 

 Aquge 5 viss 



Ft. Mist. Sig. One teaspoonful three times daily. 



When dogs are reduced nutrition must be improved, and the most gener- 

 ous diet be allowed into which meat largely enters, and it may be given 

 cooked or raw. If the loss of weight is very marked, cod liver oil in table- 

 spoonful doses should be added to each feeding. 



In cases of debility an iron tonic is indicated, and if the skin eruption 

 has existed for sometime, Fowler's solution of arsenic may be combined 

 as follows — 



R Ferri et Ammon. Cit. §i 

 Sol. Fowleri 5ij 



Ft. Mist. Sig. Four drops three times daily with the food. 

 Very many cases will be met with where this preparation of iron and 



