300 The Care of Animals 



ECZEMA, INFLAMMATION OF THE SKIN 



Eczema is inflammatiou of the skin, associated with 

 small blisters. It is usually found in horses in good 

 flesh and that are fed on rich food. It is most com- 

 mon toward the spring of the year, when the hair is 

 long, or when the animal is beginning to shed its 

 coat. 



The skin is red and slightly thickened, with small 

 eruptive blisters that discharge a gummj^ substance 

 that dries about the roots of the hair. When the 

 horse is driven or worked so that he sweats, intense 

 itching of the skin results. This is most severe in the 

 region of the neck, although the legs are* frequently 

 affected. 



If the hair is long, it should be clipped. The 

 parts should be thoroughly cleansed by washing with tar 

 soap, then wiped dry, and a small quantity of oxide of 

 zinc ointment, or other bland ointment, rubbed into 

 the skin. Internally, the horse should be given four 

 ounces of Epsom salts once daily until the bowels 

 move freel}'; then the following: 



Nitrate of potash 4 ounces 



Common salt .4 ** 



Sulfur 2 ** 



Pulverize,, mix, and give a heaping teaspoonful in the 

 feed twice daily. 



In all cases of itchy skin diseases, a thorough and 

 careful examination should be made for parasites, 

 especially lice. 



