254 Diseases of the Horse. 



NETTLE RASH— SUREEIT— URTICARIA. 



This is a frequent form of skin disease in the horse, and 

 consists of an eruption of small elastic lumps, roundish or 

 oblong in shape, and attended with itching. 



The lumps rise quickly and upon the greater part of the 

 body, generally beginning upon the neck, and frequently 

 disappearing as suddenly as they come. They are unequal in 

 size, some no larger than grains of wheat, others as large as 

 beans, and flattened upon the surface. 



The most singular feature of this eruption is the sudden- 

 ness of its appearance. Sometimes it will break out over all 

 parts of the body in a few minutes ; and it will disappear 

 with equal promptness. 



The cause of the disease is some disturbance of the diges- 

 tion ; it often appears in horses when they are first turned 

 out to grass in the spring ; and sometimes a draught of cold 

 water w^hen they are heated will bring it out on those pre- 

 disposed to it. It entails no serious consequences. 



Treatment. — As a rule all that is necessary is to give a 

 mild purge, and to relieve the itching bathe the eruption 

 with a wash of sugar of lead (one drachm to the pint of 

 water). 



MOIST TETTER— HUMID TETTER— ECZEMA. 



This is a non-contagious skin disease, which usually be- 

 gins about the neck, shoulder, back and thighs. 



The onset is sudden, and the animal is seen to rub and 

 scratch himself to relieve itchino;. On examination the skin 

 is found to be red and inflamed, often scratched and torn by 

 the efforts of the animal. Small blisters or vesides w^ill be 

 noticed on portions of the skin not lacerated by these efforts, 

 which eruptions break and discharge a watery fluid, keeping 

 the surface moist. 



