DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 95 



the cause of considerable excitement in the old country. 

 It is said to be contagious. 



Symptoms. — A medium-sized, well-defined, and rather 

 hard and irritable pustule makes its appearance over the 

 body. After awhile the pustule, having arrived at a fully- 

 developed state, bursts, and discharges a thin but sticky 

 fluid of the colour of straw ; after which an unhealthy- 

 looking scab forms, which, after a considerable length of 

 time, drops off, usually leaving an indentation or cicatrice. 



Treatment. — Administer a purgative, stimulate all of the 

 excretory organs to increased action so as to eliminate all 

 effete material ; give alteratives and tonics ; locally use 

 astringents, lotions of acid. carboL, zinc chloridi, argenti 

 nitras, ungt. hydrarg., acet. plumbi, etc., and feed well. 



Rat-tails. — This consists of a sort of plastic inflammation 

 of the derma. There is an exudate of coagulable lymph ; 

 the papillary layer of the skin becomes more or less en- 

 larged, and shows itself in transverse ridges, supposed to 

 somewhat resemble rat-tails, hence the name. It occurs 

 most frequently in connection with the hind limb. This 

 condition is generally due to oft-repeated attacks of grease. 



Treatment. — Give cathartics and diuretics, and use astrin- 

 gents and emollients locally. 



Crusta Labialis. — This is an eczematous condition of the 

 skin, and is said to be due to the action of grasses, reeds^ 

 etc., on the lips, and it may in some cases be due to faulty 

 digestion or derangement of the digestive system. I have 

 noticed that some horses are more subject to it than others, 

 the mealy "^ bay horses suff'ering more frequently than horses- 

 of another colour. (Smith.) 



Treatment. — Use any mild ointment, as zinc ointment^ 

 acid, carbol., hydrarg. corros, etc. ; are all good, used either 



* Horses light bay in colour, with very light coloured 

 muzzles. 



