216 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



CHAPTER YIII. 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND EARS. 



As all the unfavorable external influences to which the 

 horse is exposed first come in contact with the skin, we can 

 readily understand why it should so frequently be the seat 

 of disease. When we consider the dreadful treatment to 

 which the poor animal is often subjected, it seems a wonder 

 that the case is not worse than it is. But the peculiar struc- 

 ture of the skin, as already described in the appropriate sec- 

 tion of Chapter 11, in a great degree protects him from in- 

 jury, and wards oft* many of the eftects of exposure and bad 

 treatment*. 



The various affections of the horse's skin have received 

 different names according to their localities, and the different 

 phases which they assume. There is a great sameness in 

 the general symptoms of most of them, as well as in their 

 causes and treatment. They may all be embraced in two 

 classes: First, those which proceed from bad treatment; 

 second, those which are the result of constitutional tenden- 

 cies. The first of these classes embraces by far the larger pro- 

 portion of them. One of its most characteristic representa- 

 tives is the disease called 



SCRATCHES. 



Universally known and dreaded as this is by all American 

 horsemen, it seems to be a stranger to the English veterina- 

 rians ; at least, it is not mentioned by any of them so far as 

 we have any knowledge. It makes its appearance on the 

 back part of the foot, extending from the heel to the fetlock, 

 and much oftener on the hind than on the fore-feet. In ex- 

 treme cases, it has been known to extend upward on the 



