384 THE SKIN AND ITS DISEASES. 



and in its substance. It is the difference that is presented to the feeling by well cur- 

 ried and supple leather, and that which has become dry and unyielding. 



The surface of the skin becoming dry and hard, the scales of the cutii^le are no 

 longer penetrated by the hair, but, separating themselves in every direction, give that 

 peculiar roughness to the coat which accompanies want of condition. It betokens 

 impaired function o: the vessels everywhere, and particularly those of the stomach 

 and bowels. Hide-bound is not so much a disease as a symj>tom of disease, and 

 particularly of the digestive orgai^ • and our remedies must be applied not so much to 

 the skin — althougli we have, in friction and in warmth, most valuable agents in pro- 

 ducing a healthy condition of the integuments — as to the cause of the hide-bound, 

 and the state of the constitution generally. Every disease that can affect the general 

 system may produce this derangement of the functions of the skin. Glanders, when 

 become constitutional, is strongly indicated by the unthrifty appearance of the coat. 

 Chronic cough, grease, farcy, and founder, are accompanied by hide bound ; and diet 

 too sparing, and not adequate to the work exacted, is an unfailing source of i^. If 

 the cause is removed, the effect will cease. 



Should the cause be obscure, as it frequently is — should the horse wear an unthrifty 

 coat, and his hide cling to his ribs, without any apparent disease, we shall generally 

 be warranted in tracing it to sympathy with the actual, althouah not demonstrable, 

 suspension of some important secretion or function, cither of t!ie alimentary canal or 

 the respiratory functions. A few mashes, and a mild dose of phj'sic, are first indi 

 Gated, and, simple as they appear to be, they often have a very beneficial effect. 'I'he 

 regular action of the bowels being re-established, that of all the organs of the frame 

 will speedily follow. If the horse cannot he spared for physic, alteratives may be 

 administered. There is no better alterative for bide-bound and an unthrifty coat, than 

 that which is in common use, levigated antimony, nitre, and sulphur. The peculiar 

 effect of the antimony and sulphur, and electric influence on the skin, with that of the 

 sulphur on the bowels, and of the nitre on the urinary organs, will be here advan- 

 tageously combined. 



Should the horse not feed well, and there is no indication of fever, a slight tonic 

 may be added, as gentian, or ginger; but in the majority of cases, attended by loss 

 of condition, and an unthrifty coat, and hide-bound, tonics and aromatics should be 

 carefully avoided. 



The cause of the impaired action of the vessels being removed, the powers of 

 nature will generally be sufficient, and had better be left to themselves. There are 

 not any more dangerous medicines in common use in the stable, and especially in 

 cases like these, than tonics and cordials. They often arouse to fatal action a ten- 

 dency to fever that would otherwise have slept, or they produce a state of excitement 

 near akin to fever, and apt to degenerate into it. By the stimulus of a cordial, the 

 secretions may be suddenly roused, and among them, this unctuous secretion from the 

 pores of the skin, so necessary to apparent condition ; but the effect soon passes over, 

 and a repetition of the stimidus is necessary — the habit is soon formed — the dose 

 must be gradually increased, and in the mean time the animal is kept in a state of 

 dangerous excitement, by which the powers of nature must be eventually impaired. 



Friction may be employed with advantage in the removal of hide-bound. It has 

 repeatedly been shown that tliis is one of the most efficacious instruments we can 

 use, to call into exercise the sus])pnded energies either of the absorbent or secreting 

 vessels. Warmth may likewise be had recourse to — not warmtli of stable, which 

 has been shown to he so irijurious, but warmth arising from exercise, and tlie salu- 

 tary, although inexplicable, influence of clipping and singeing. Before this can bo 

 fully considered, th" iiair by which the skin is covered must be described. 



The base of the bulb whence the hair proceeds being beneath the true skin, it is 

 easy to perceive that the hair will grow again, although the cuticle may have been 

 destroyed. A good blister, although it may remove the cuticle, and seemingly for a 

 while the hair with it, leaves no lasting trace. Even firing, lisrhtly and skilfully per- 

 formed, and not penetrating through the skin, leaves not much blemish ; but when, in 

 broken knees, the true skin is cut through, or destroyed, there will always remain a 

 spot devoid of hair. The method of hastening and perfecting the re-production of thu 

 hair, has been described in page 2()7. 



