Eczema of Swine. Prognosis. Treatment. §63 



must always be borne in mind in view of tlie possibility of auto- 

 intoxication 



Prognosis. Eczema is generally a benign disease especially 

 it its occurrence is attributable to external influences and if it 

 IS not very much neglected. In very chronic cases the deeper 

 seated changes in the skin can, however, no longer be remedied, 

 the more so as acute relapses frequently occur which again and 

 again interrupt the improvement that has commenced to become 

 manifest. In such badly neglected cases the sick animal falls 

 away markedly in nutrition in consequence of continued unrest 

 and loss of protein, and thus the prognosis is unfavorably in- 

 fluenced. Similarly the complaint may be regarded unfavorably 

 if it occurs as a result of some chronic internal disease, which 

 to a certain extent renders an energetic treatment of the skin 

 disease impossible. 



Relapses are observed frequently, and even in very mild 

 cases and in those improving quickly under treatment a later 

 attack IS not precluded, although more frequently it occurs in 

 badly nourished animals than in healthy ones. 



Treatment. Above all the animals should be protected 

 from certain external influences. Animal parasites should be 

 destroyed by suitable remedies, dust and dirt should be re- 

 moved with the brush. A great drawback to treatment, espe- 

 cially m advanced cases, is furnished by the hair coat, conse- 

 quently it is very advisable to have the hair clipped at and 

 about the diseased spots. 



Itching must be controlled in every case in large animals 

 by tying up and by covering, in small animals by well-con- 

 structed muzzles, collars or bandaging of the affected spots. 

 Frequently the employment of even the most varied artifices 

 does not achieve this object, until the alleviance of the itching 

 or commencing healing in the inflammatory process secures re- 

 lief to the animal. 



In acute eczema it is advisable to protect the skin from the 

 effects of water, soap or even air, and besides to remove the 

 existing scales, crusts or secretions, which is most suitably ac- 

 complished with cotton soaked in oil, hydrogen peroxide, 'lime 

 water, linseed oil, and if need be with compresses or poultices 

 of 5% Burow's solution. For the last named object salicylic 

 acid (as a 2 to 5% ointment or in the form of a 1 to 3% oil), 

 or carbolized oil may be employed. In eczema of the ear Avarm 

 creolin solution should ])e injected cautiously, and the hair of 

 the neighborhood clipped, after which the collected secretions 

 may be removed with forceps or a similar instrument, the end 

 of which is wrapped with cotton soaked in oil or in creolin 

 solution, and which is introduced as far as possible into the 

 deepest parts of the auditory passage. 



As long as only erythema, nodules and vesicles exist on the 

 skin, drying or protecting substances, such as dusting powder or 



