582 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



SECTION VIIL—THE SKIN AND TEE BISOBBEBS 

 CONNECTEB THEBEWITH. 



Alike in animals and in man, the possession of a beautiful 

 and healthy skin is an enviable one. Not only does it impart 

 an attractive appearance, but it also to a large extent implies a 

 good state on the part of the whole bodily frame. This, how- 

 ever, must not be considered as an infallible sign, for many who 

 are very great sufferers from internal disease may yet look 

 thoroughly well in regard to the skin. Hence, although ceteris 

 paribus a fine skin is a most desirable gift or acquisition, still 

 the mere possession of it is not a certain and sure proof of health. 

 On the other hand, an unthrifty look must always be considered 

 as a mark of bad condition, of ill-health. 



Furthermore, among mankind, perhaps, there are few persons 

 who, rather than show a tell-tale complexion or an unsightly 

 eruption on the hands or face, would not prefer to be afflicted 

 with some minor ailment which would not be observed. The fact 

 is, that the majority of people have a great horror of skin diseases, 

 and they very often set them down as being far worse than they 

 really are. No doubt some of this aversion springs from a kind 

 of idea or belief that skin affections are, as a rule, parasitic in 

 origin. Of course, this is by no means always the case, and it 

 may be added that in the hands of a doctor who knows his work 

 those diseases of the skin which are parasitic in character are for 

 that very reason to be less feared than many others which but 

 too often point to a general disturbance, or even the gravest 

 possible diseases of the system at large. 



Strange as it may seem, men, and even women, often allow 

 skin ailments to proceed without seeking good and wise treat- 

 ment at the hands of a clever doctor. Now, if this is the case 

 among human beings — and that it is so cannot admit of serious 

 doubt when one observes the large number of curable skin 

 diseases in one's fellow-men — how little surprise need we feel 

 when we find that many owners of oxen are by no means 

 solicitous as to the cure of ringworm or other afflictions of the 

 skin among beasts. No doubt, however, more care will be 

 taken concerning these and allied points, so soon as farming 

 begins to look up again, for which state of things we in England 

 are all hopefully waiting. 



