DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 437 



one-half to an inch in diameter. The same remarks appl}' to the effects 

 of the poison ivy and poison sumac. 



Treatment.— In papular eruption first remove the cause, then apply 

 the same general remedies as for simple congestion. In the more 

 inveterate cases use a lotion of one-half ounce sulphide of potassium 

 in 2 quarts water, to which a little Castile soap has been added; or use 

 a wash with one-half ounce oil of tar, 2 ounces Castile soap, and 20 

 ounces water. 



I^'FLAMMATION WITH BLISTERS, OK ECZEMA. 



In this the skin is congested, thickened, warm (white skins are red- 

 dened), and shows a thick crop of little blisters formed by effusions of 

 a straw-colored fluid between the true skin and the cuticle. The blis- 

 ters may be of any size from a millet seed to a pea, and often crack 

 open and allow the escape of the fluid, which concretes as a slightly 

 3'ellowish scab or crust around the roots of the hairs. This exudation 

 and incrustation are especiall}^ common where the hairs are long, thick, 

 and numerous, as in the region of the pastern of heavy draft horses. 

 The term eczema is now applied very generally to eruptions of all 

 kinds that depend on internal disorders or constitutional conditions, 

 and that tend to recurrences and inveteracy. Eczema may appear on 

 an}'' part of the body, but in horses it is cspecialh^ common on the heels 

 and the lower parts of the limbs, and less frequently on the neck, 

 shoulder, and abdomen. The limbs appear to be especially liable 

 because of their dependent position, all blood having to return from 

 them against the action of gravity, and congestions and swellings being 

 common, because of the abundance of blood vessels in this part of the 

 skin, and because of the frequent contact with the irritant dung and 

 urine and their ammoniacal emanations. The legs further suffer from 

 contact with wet and mud when at work, from snow and ice, from 

 drafts of cold air on the wet limbs, from washing with caustic soaps, or 

 from the relaxing effects of a too deep and abundant litter. Among 

 other causes may be named indigestion and the presence of irritant 

 matters in the blood and sweat, the result of patent medicated foods 

 and condition powders (aromatics, stimulants), green food, new hay, 

 new oats, buckwheat, wheat, maize, diseased potatoes, smut, or ergot, 

 in grains, decomposing green food, brewers' grains, or kitchen gar- 

 bage. The excitement in the skin, caused by shedding the coat, lack 

 of grooming, hot weather, hot boiled or steamed food, conduces to the 

 eruption. Lastly, any sudden change of food ma}^ induce it. 



The blisters may in part go on to suppuration so that vesicles and 

 pustules often appear on the same patch, and when raw from rubbing 

 the true nature of the eruption may be completely masked. In high- 

 fed horses, kept in close stables with little work, eczema of the limbs 

 may last for months and years. It is a \q\'j troublesome affection in 

 draft stallions. 



