318 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



ACUTE IRRITATION OF THE SKIN, BY CLIPPING. 



In the Elements of Veterinary Homoeopathy, written by Sur- 

 geon Haycock, we find an article on acute irritation of the skin. 

 The author takes to himself the credit of being the first to call 

 attention to the subject: be that as it may, he has earned for 

 himself the thanks of all those who have " a heart to feel another's 

 woe," by giving publicity to his views on this subject. 



When we come to take into consideration the irritation and 

 pain some men suffer, who, after allowing their beards to grow 

 long, cut the hair off close to the skin, we can then realize that 

 horses must also suffer from the practice of clipping. This can 

 be explained on the principle, that the hair at its base, or inser- 

 tion, is much more unyielding than at its remote point, (if the 

 hair be long,) and therefore, if the hand or blanket be rapidly 

 passed over the short hair, considerable resistance is met with, 

 and a greater degree of motion is felt in the sensitive tissues that 

 enclose the bulb and radicles of the hair; consequently, a repe- 

 tition of the practice, or from the act of grooming, acute irritation 

 is often the result. 



Another reason for the irritation may be assigned. The hair 

 is described as small, cylindrical, transparent, insensible, and 

 elastic filaments, which arise from the skin, and are fastened in it 

 by means of small roots. Being cylindrical, therefore, it is very 

 reasonable to suppose that by cutting off the natural coat of hair at 

 its base, where its calibre is of considerable magnitude, we expose 

 an immense surface of highly sensitive tissue, which, in reality, 

 may be compared to stripping off so many minute particles of 

 skin. The stimulating effects of an impure, or even a pure, 

 atmosphere on the interior surface of the hair bulb is injurious. 

 We often hear men complain of taking cold, and experiencing a 

 feeling of slight pain or irritation at the same time they take cold, 

 probably partly from this cause, and partly from the removal of 

 the pilous covering of the head. The symptoms, as described by 

 Surgeon Haycock, are: "Acute irritation of the skin is charac- 

 terized by a general soreness of the entire surface. If the 

 observer attempts to place his hand upon the body of the animal, 



