600 ECZEMA. 



by the discharge. This discharge is seldom as abundant as in eczema 

 in the dog or horse. It is produced slowly and dries rapidly. 



As the crusts fall, carrying with them a portion of the hair, the 

 general symptoms disappear, but the sites of these vesicular patches 

 now show cracks extending as deep as the dermis and often compli- 

 cated by secondary infection involving suppuration, adenitis, abscess 

 formation, or diffuse subcutaneous suppuration. 



Acute eczema is generally confined to the limbs. It may develop 

 fully in from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. The acute stage is 

 attained in a few days, and the condition disappears in two to three 

 weeks provided it does not , assume the chronic form as the result of 

 complications. 



Diagnosis. The absence of parasites enables the condition to be 

 distinguished from phthiriasis and acariasis, whilst the history pre- 

 vents its being confounded with toxic eczema. 



Prognosis. The condition is troublesome rather than grave. Sup- 

 puration is often persistent, and despite careful attention the discharge 

 may only diminish slowly, while the disease is always liable to return. 



The treatment is local and general. Local treatment consists in 

 emollient and antiseptic washes and the aj^plication of drying powders. 

 The former comprise glycerole of starch, bran water, boric ointments, 

 camphorated vaseline, iodine and glycerine. At a later stage the skin 

 can be washed with decoction of oak bark or a weak iodine solution, 

 followed by the application of talc or starch powder. As far as pos- 

 sible this external treatment should be supplemented by the frequent 

 use of mild purgatives and various diuretics, which seem to have 

 a special action on the arthritic diathesis. 



CHRONIC ECZEMA. 



Comparatively few cases of chronic eczema have hitherto been de- 

 scribed in oxen, and the details given are extremely meagre. Chronic 

 eczema may assume that form from the first or may succeed acute 

 eczema. The causes are probably the same in both conditions. 



The symptoms appear to be those of the acute form, but are much 

 less severe. They consist in papulation, a miliary vesicular eruption, 

 pruritus, and the formation of crusts and epidermic scales. 



In a case seen by Megnin the crusts separated and fell away, 

 leaving bare spots. The disease re-appeared for several years in suc- 

 cession. The spots finally remained bare, but showed no thicken- 

 ing of the skin and no microscopic changes. 



Diagnosis. Microscopical examination is necessary to distinguish 

 this disease from scabies or ringworm. 



