408 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



the skin has been induced by the excessive use of mercurial prepara- 

 tions for the destruction of lice. It is evident that eczema may arise 

 from local irritation to the skin or from an auto-intoxication. Cattle 

 fed on the refuse from potato-starch factories develop a most obstinate 

 and widespread eczema, beginning on the legs. 



Symptoms. In accordance with the variety of symptoms during 

 the progress of the disease we may divide it into different stages or 

 periods : (1) Swelling and increased heat of the skin ; the formation 

 of vesicles, which are circumscribed, rounded elevations of the epider- 

 mis, varying in size from a pin head to a split pea, containing a clear, 

 watery fluid; (2) exudation of a watery, glutinous fluid, formation 

 of crusts, and sometimes suppuration, or the formation of vesicles con- 

 taining pus (pustules) ; (3) scaling off (desquamation), with redness, 

 and thickening of the skin. From the very beginning of the disease 

 the animal will commence to rub the affected parts ; hence the various 

 stages may not always be easily recognized, as the rubbing will pro- 

 duce more or less abrasion, thus leaving the skin raw sometimes 

 bleeding. Neither do these symptoms always occur in regular suc- 

 cession, for in some cases the exudation will be most prominent, being 

 very profuse, and serve to spread the disorder over a large surface. 

 In other cases the formation of incrustations, or rawness of the skin, 

 will be the most striking feature. The disease may be limited to cer- 

 tain small areas, or it may be diffused over the greater part of the 

 body ; the vesicles or pustules, may be scattered in small clusters, or 

 a large number run together. The chronic form is really only a pro- 

 longation of the disease, successive crops of pustules appearing on 

 various portions of the body, frequently invading fresh sections of the 

 skin, while the older surfaces form scabs, or crusts, upon the raw, in- 

 durated skin. 



In old standing cases the skin will break, forming fissures, espe- 

 cially on portions of the body that bend the neck and limbs. Thus 

 the disease may be prolonged indefinitely. When eczema reaches its 

 latest period, either acute or chronic, desquamation of the affected 

 parts is the most prominent feature. The formation and shedding of 

 these successive crops of scales constitute the character of the disease 

 frequently denominated psoriasis. 



Treatment. The treatment of eczema is often anything but a 

 pleasant task. There is no one method of treatment which will always 

 prove successful, no matter how early it is begun or how small an 

 area is involved. We must endeavor to remove the cause by giving 

 attention to the general health of the animal and to its environment. 

 Feeding should be moderate in quantity and not too stimulating in 

 character green feed, bran mashes, ground oats, clean hay, plenty 

 of salt. If the animal has been fed too high, give an active purga- 

 tive Epsom salts preferred once a week, if necessary, and half an 

 ounce of acetate or nitrate of potash may be given in the feed twice a 

 day. If the animal is in poor condition and debilitated, give a table- 

 spoonful of the following mixture in feed twice a day: Powdered 

 copperas, gentian, sulphur, and sassafras bark, equal parts by weight. 

 If the animal is lousy, the parasite must be destroyed before the 



