DISEASES OF CATTLE 409 



eczema can be cured. The external treatment must vary with the 

 character of the lesions ; no irritating application is to be made while 

 the disease is in its acute vesicular, or pustular, stage, and, in the 

 chronic stage, active stimulants must be used. Much washing is 

 harmful, yet crusts and scales must be removed in order to obtain 

 satisfactory results from the external applications. Both objects, 

 however, can be attained by judiciously combining the curative 

 agents with such substances as will at the same time cleanse the parts. 



In the vesicular stage, when the skin is feverish and the epider- 

 mis peeling off, exposing the exuding dermis, an application of 

 boracic acid solution, 2 drams of the acid to 8 ounces of water, will 

 often relieve the smarting or itching, and also serve to check the 

 exudation and dry the surface. If this fails to have the desired effect, 

 use creolin, 1 ounce to a quart of water, as a wash. Either of these 

 washes may be used several times a day until incrustation is well estab- 

 lished. Then use creolin, 1 ounce to a pint of sweet oil, or the ben- 

 zoated oxid of zinc ointment, giving the affected surfaces a thorough 

 application once a day. When the eczema is not the result of an ex- 

 ternal irritant, it takes usually from one to two weeks before the heal- 

 ing is completed. 



In- chronic eczema, where there is a succession of scabs, or scales, 

 indolent sores or fissures, the white precipitate ointment, nitrate of 

 mercury ointment, or blue ointment, mixed with equal parts of cos- 

 moline or fresh lard, may be applied every second day, taking care to 

 protect the parts so anointed that the animal can not lick it off. 



In some cases the use of the following mixture will do well : Oil 

 of tar one-half ounce, glycerin 1 ounce, alcohol 1 pint. Rub this in 

 after cleansing the parts with warm water and soap. The internal 

 administration of arsenic often yields excellent results in chronic 

 eczema. Take 1 drain of arsenic, 1 dram of carbonate of potash, 1 

 pint of boiling water, and give 1 ounce of this twice a day in water, 

 after feeding. An alkali internally may be of service. As such, one 

 may give 2 ounces of bicarbonate of soda twice daily. Sublimed sul- 

 phur may also be tried in ounce doses twice daily. 

 PUSTULES (IMPETIGO). 



Impetigo is an inflammatory disease of the skin, characterized by 

 the formation of distinct pustules, about the size of a pea or a bean, 

 unattended by itching. The pustules develop from the papular layer 

 of the skin, and contain a yellowish white pus. After reaching ma- 

 turity they remain stationary for a few days, then they disappear by 

 absorption and dry up into crusts. Later the crusts drop off, leaving 

 upon the skin a red spot which soon disappears. Occasionally the 

 crusts remain firmly adherent for a long time, or they may be raised 

 and loosened by the formation of matter underneath. The dry crusts 

 usually have a brown or black appearance. 



Causes. Impetigo affects sucking calves, in which the disease 

 appears upon the lips, nostrils, and face. It is attributed to some 

 irritant substance contained in the mother's milk. Impetigo is also 

 witnessed among grazing animals, regardless of age, and it especially 

 attacks animals with white hair and skin. The mouth, face, and 



