DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 335 



The Application of Remedies. — As the object of all 

 local remedies is to affect the skin itself, it may be neces- 

 sary, though not usually, to remove the hair from the 

 diseased patches of skin by clipping as close as possible. 



As to whether a lotion or an ointment shall be chosen, 

 must depend on whether the dog has a long or a short coat, 

 whether clipping away of hair is admissible, the stage of 

 the disease, etc. 



Both lotions and ointments should be applied as dress- 

 ings when possible — i. e., the parts should be covered with 

 cotton dipped in the lotions and evaporation prevented by 

 impermeable material, or the cotton covering the parts 

 smeared with ointment may be dipped in oil. This keeps 

 the former from being rubbed or licked off. Moreover, 

 when the limbs are affected, a bandage nicely applied is 

 comfortable, and favors the circulation of the blood. 



Such methods are not, however, always applicable, 

 from the disease being very extensive or from some other 

 cause. 



As any oily substance applied to the skin naturally 

 checks its proper functions, ointments should never be 

 employed continuously, however suitable, but will always 

 be found more useful if washed off every few days. 



In using any ointment or lotion it is well to apply it 

 over only a small part of the affected surface, to learn 

 whether it is suitable or not; or two or three different 

 applications may be compared in their effects ; for a rem- 

 edy that will help one case will only make another worse, 

 and what is most useful at one stage of the disease will be 

 harmful at another. Moreover, a lotion or ointment that 

 may soothe when of a certain strength, will irritate when 



