122 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



Eczema. — This is an inflammation of the vascular capilkry 

 bodies and the superficial layer of the skin. There may be 

 marked inflammatory exudate, causing the surface of the skin 

 to become excessively moist and more or less itching. Redness, 

 vesicles and pustules may characterize the inflammation. In the 

 chronic form the skin may become thickened and greatly changed 

 in structure. 



Eczematous inflammation of the skin may occur in all domes- 

 tic animals, but it is most common in the dog. In the horse 

 local eczema (scratches) is common. 



The most frequent cause is external irritation. Aceimau- 

 lations of filth on the skin and continual wetting of the part are 

 common causes. Mechanical causes are rubbing, pressure, the 

 action of the sun's rays and chemical irritants. Internal causes, 

 such as catarrhal diseases of the stomach and weakness and 

 emaciation from disease, may act as direct or predisposing causes. 

 Tender-skinned animals seem to be predisposed to the disease. 



The symptoms vary in the different species of animals. In 

 the horse the thin skin posterior to the fetlock and knee, in front 

 of the hock and on the under side of the body is most commonly 

 inflamed. Moisture and dirt seem to be the most common causes. 

 Eczema may involve the skin covered by the mane and tail in 

 animals that are not properly groomed and inclined to rub or 

 scratch. Cattle may suffer from eczematous inflammations in 

 the region of the forehead, back of neck and base of tail. A very 

 common form of the disease involves the space between the toes. 

 Sheep freciuently suffer from inflanniiation of the skin over the 

 fetlock region. The skin of animals having long fleeces, or heavy 

 coats of hair that become wet at a time when there is no oppor- 

 tunity to dry out quickly, may become inflamed. Dogs are 

 commonly affected by the acute and chronic forms of eczema. 

 Eczema of swine is limited mostly to young hogs. It is rather 

 rare, exce]iting in hogs that are pasturing on certain kinds of 

 clover and rape, or on muck lands. 



