458 DISEASES OF THE SKIN 



painting of the part with compound tincture of benzoin, until a thick 

 scab is formed which protects the sores while healing goes on. 



Alopecia. Falling Out of the Hair. 



By this term we mean a falling out of the hair which is not caused 

 by actual disease of the hair. We make a distinction, however, between 

 general alopecia and alopecia areata. The former is an extensive 

 falling out of the hair, often recognized after serious disease and during 

 the period of convalescence, as in the latter stages of gestation and during 

 and after nursing a large litter. The latter is a symptom of bad nutritive 

 condition (alopecia symptomatica), and is characterized in some cases 

 by a circumscribed or rounded herpes; this may become confluent and 

 is especially developed on the back, tail, and external fascise of the thighs. 

 In both forms it is not rare to find the skin pigmented. Siedamgrotsky 

 has proved that alopecia of the dog if circumscribed or diffuse, depends 

 on the atrophic condition of the hair and infiltration of the upper cu- 

 taneous layers, and it is especially seen in dogs wdth silky, white or grayish 

 hair. Black-tipped hair, if the body of the hair is gray, is also notice- 

 able. This condition is very apt to be confounded with herpes, in 

 the form of a trophoneurosis, either from a disturbance of the cir- 

 culation, or the irritation of parasites. 



It has been thought that certain forms of this disorder might be 

 due to some specific microorganism, but it has not been as yet isolated 

 and described. There is seen in two breeds, Pomeranians and York- 

 shires, a peculiar condition due to atrophy of the hair bulbs, in which 

 young clogs, rarely over six to eight months, changing from the puppy 

 hair to the first coat, loose the hair gradually or it falls out in spots or 

 large areas become bare, invariably one side of the body being in perfect 

 symmetry with the other, leaving the animal permanently bald in the 

 affected portions. It rarely covers over the entire body, but is seen in the 

 hind quarters and body as far up as the anterior limbs. The skin is 

 bluish-black, perfectly smooth, soft and pliable, with no signs of erup- 

 tion. That it is due to some pathological change in the central 

 spinal system is very evident as there is a perfect symmetry 

 of the affected sides. It is evidently due to too close breeding, when 

 the object is to get miniature animals, as it is only seen in these toy 

 breeds. 



Therapeutic Treatment. — Find the cause; if any, remove it by treat- 

 ment. The treatment consists of washing with alcoholic soap, bay rum, 

 benzoin and alcohol (1 to 30) , and a diluted tincture of cantharides or 

 balsam of Peru with alcohol, 1 to 10, or some of the various hair tonics 

 recommended for man. In alopecia areata when it is possibly due to 



