SECTION VIII. 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS 

 CONNECTIVE TISSUE. 



CHAPTER I. 



ECZEMA. 



Under the name of eczema may be grouped a series of cutaneous 

 diseases characterised by pruritus, by a discharge from the skin, or 

 simply by epidermic prohferation, without any apparent parasitic or 

 accidental cause. 



These diseases have been referred to a special constitutional con- 

 dition termed a diathesis, although during the last few years we have 

 come to recognise certain microbic and toxic influences in their pro- 

 duction. In the ox eczema assumes different appearances. Accord- 

 ingly, the disease has been divided into the acute, chronic, sebaceous, 

 and toxic forms. 



ACUTE ECZEMA. 



Causation. In the ox, as in all other species, the determining 

 cause is to be found in bad hygienic conditions, improper feeding, 

 and in a special individual condition of the animal affected, that is 

 to say, a diathesis. 



Symptoms. During a preliminary period, which might be termed 

 a prodromic period, only general symptoms can be detected, such as 

 fever, loss of appetite, digestive disturbance, constipation, etc. Local 

 signs are still absent, or at least are not noticeable, and are only 

 represented by congestion of the skin. 



The second phase is characterised by a papulous eruption which 

 is difficult to detect, inasmuch as it occurs in the depths of the 

 coat. Nevertheless, the skin is distinctly sensitive, and at numerous 

 small points the hairs appear to stand upright. 



The third phase consists in the development of more or less con- 

 fluent vesicles, with exudation and discharge. The disease is not 

 really visible externally until after the hair has become agglutinated 



