DISEASES OF CATTLE 413 



until death of the central portion takes place, then the surface of the 

 skin gives way to internal pressure, and the core is released and ex- 

 pelled. Constitutional symptoms are generally absent, unless the 

 boils occur in considerable numbers, or by their size involve a great 

 amount of tissue. 



Treatment. Poulticing to ripen the abscess. If this can not be 

 done, apply camphorated oil two or three times a day until the core 

 is formed. As soon as the central or most prominent part becomes 

 soft, the abscess should be opened to release the core. Then use car- 

 bolized cosmoline once a day until the healing is completed. If the 

 animal is in poor condition, give tonics copperas, gentian, ginger, 

 and sulphur, equal parts by weight, 1 tablespoon ful twice a day. If 

 the animal manifests a feverish condition of the system, administer 

 half an ounce of saltpeter twice a day, continuing it several days 

 or a week. 



PITYRIASIS (SEBORRHEA, DANDRUFF, OR SCURF). 



This is a condition characterized by an excessive secretion of 

 sebaceous matter, forming upon the skin in small crusts, or scales. 



Causes. It is due to a functional derangement of the seba- 

 ceous glands, usually accompanied by dryness and loss of pliancy 

 of the skin. The animal is hidebound, as it is commonly termed, 

 thin in flesh, inclined to rub, and very frequently lousy. The con- 

 dition is observed most often toward the spring of the year. Ani- 

 mals that are continually housed, and the skins of which receive 

 no cleaning, generally present a coat filled with fine scales, com- 

 posed of epithelium from the epidermis and dried sebaceous 

 matter. This, however, is a physiological condition, and com- 

 patible with perfect health. 



Symptoms. Pityriasis may affect the .greater portion of the 

 body, though usually only certain parts are affected the ears, 

 neck, rump, etc. The skin becomes scurfy, the hairy coat filled 

 with bran-like gray or whitish scales. 



Treatment. Nutritious food, such as oil-cake meal, bran, 

 ground oats, and clean hay. In the spring the disease generally 

 disappears after the animal is turned out to pasture, when lice 

 are present they should be destroyed. 



ELEPHANTIASIS (SCLERODERMA). 



This condition consists in a chronic thickening of the skin, 

 which may affect one or more limbs, or involve the whole integu- 

 ment. It is characterized by recurrent attacks of swelling of the 

 skin and subcutaneous areolar tissue. After each attack the af- 

 fected parts remain infiltrated to a larger extent than before, until 

 finally the skin may attain a thickness of an inch, become wrinkled 

 and fissured. In cattle this disease is confined to hot climates. 

 The predisposing cause is unknown. 



EDEMA (ANASARCA OF THE SKIN). 



This is a dropsical condition of the skin and subcutaneous 

 areolar tissue, characterized by pitting under pressure, the fingers 

 leaving a dent which remains a short time. 



