Savjv Diseases. 587 



until they become perfectly raw. It is not in every instance, nor indeed in tlie majority of 

 cases, that the skin itself shows any marked signs of disease. Very frequently the surface of 

 the part where the principal irritation seems to exist is quite free from evidence of inflamma- 

 tion ; no eruption is apparent, and there is no abnormal sensibility to the touch. Nevertheless, 

 it is idle to attribute the animal's movements to habit. A liorse is not likely to rub the tail 

 until it bleeds, or to bite the skin of his fetlocks, unless he is impelled thereto by some un- 

 comfortable sensations. 



" The treatment of these cases must necessarily be tentative or empirical, because the 

 symptoms do not afford any evidence of the nature of the derangement. 



" Constitutional remedies must be associated with the applications which are employed to 

 moderate the local excitement. The irritation of the skin may be entirely sympathetic, in con- 

 sequence of disorder of the mucous membrane of the digestive organs ; sudden change of diet 

 being at the bottom of the mischief If the animal has just been turned into a new pasture, 

 the symptoms of itching need excite no attention, as they will subside when the system has become 

 habituated to the diet ; but if any strange article of food has been introduced into the stable 

 experimentally, it will be well to discontinue its use. A mild dose of purgative medicine may also 

 be useful, and this should be followed by daily doses of nitre and sulphur — about one drachm of 

 each — in a mash. Local treatment will include lotions and ointments which have a sedative effect. 

 or others which are stimulant in their action ; the one having been tried unsuccessfully will 

 naturally be discarded for the other. Sedative remedies — which are most likely to be effectual 

 when the skin is reddened, or covered with small pimples — arc: tincture of aconite, diluted with 

 fifty to one hundred parts of water; diacetate of lead, with eight parts of glycerine ; and common 

 vinegar, with twenty parts of water. Stimulant remedies are : a mixture of liver of sulphur, one 

 part to sixteen of water, a very effective wash; various preparations containing carbolic acid, 

 oil of turpentine, and oil of tar, equal parts, with eight parts of train oil ; and many other dressings 

 are employed in chronic forms of skin disease of an ill-defined character, and commonly con- 

 founded with mange. 



"A very annoying and obstinate form of irritation of skin is that which causes an animal 

 to rub the tail constantly. This symptom is always sufiiciently suggestive of the presence of 

 parasites (oxyurides) in the large intestines to justify an attempt to expel them before any 

 other means are used. For this purpose an injection of salt-and-water — four ounces of salt 

 to one gallon of water — should be given ; and if this fail to cause the removal of any worms, 

 a dose of santonine, fifteen to twenty grains, with three drachms of aloes, should be at once 

 administered. 



" Should it appear, from no worms coming away, that no parasites are present, remedies, 

 of which there are many in favour, should be applied to the irritated part. Sometimes con- 

 siderable relief is obtained by puncturing the root of the tail in several places with a lancet, and 

 allowing the blood to flow ; there is no fear of serious haemorrhage. After this operation either of 

 the sedative or stimulant lotions may be employed, or a little mercurial ointment (blue) may be 

 well rubbed into the skin of the tail daily. 



" As the system is generally somewhat out of order at the ' moulting time,' a little alterative 

 medicine, consisting of nitre, sublimed sulphur, and yellow resin, tivo drachms of each, given tzvicc 

 or three times in the week, cannot be objectionable ; and, although Nature may, after all, cure the 

 disease in her own way, it is always consolatory to do something. 



'■ There remains one very characteristic affection of the integument to be discussed — 

 nettle rash (urticaria), which is common at all times of the year when animals are exposed 



