THE SKIN 389 



of the skin. Symptoms. — The horse hangs its head in a listless 

 manner, and is off its food, while the skin is hot and dry. In the 

 course of a few days small vesicles are noticed cropping up on 

 various parts of the body. Each of these contains a thin fluid, and 

 soon bursts, forming a scab, which in time drops off, leaving a bare 

 spot. The fever has to be combated with gentle saline medicines, 

 but purgatives must be strictly avoided. Doses of from 1 to 2 ounces 

 of Epsom salts and 1 ounce of cream of tartar, given in hay-tea 

 night and morning, are all the treatment that is required. When 

 the skin is very itchy, sponging it frequently with equal parts of 

 Sanitas and water has a very soothing and cooling effect. 



663. Variola Vaccina, or Cow-Pox, is a somewhat similar 

 malady affecting the cow, which, however, is now very rare. It was 

 in the lymph contained in the vesicles of this affection that the 

 immortal Jenner recognized the properties of a protective agent 

 against human small-pox, and from this lymph he prepared his 

 vaccine. The vesicles are usually found on the udder of the cow, 

 and accompanying them there is, as in the horse, a considerable 

 amount of fever and constitutional disturbance. Simple alkaline 

 medicine, good nursing, and easily digestible food constitute all the 

 necessary treatment. 



664. Variola Ovina, or Sheep-Pox. — A vesicular complaint, 

 somewhat analogous in its symptoms to the pox of the horse and 

 cow ; also affects the sheep, but is happily very rare. Here the 

 eruptions are first seen on the inside of the thighs and forearms. 

 The affected animals should at once be removed and isolated. 

 Sheep-pox is under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act. 



665. Simple Eczema is an inflammatory eruption of the skin, 

 which often affects the horse when at grass, particularly in the 

 spring and summer months. It is characterized by the formation on 

 various parts of the body of minute vesicles or bladders full of a thin 

 fluid, accompanied by itching and irritation, which cause the animal 

 to rub itself against anything it comes in contact with. It is common 

 in horses imported from other countries, and somewhat resembles 

 mange, but in this case there is no parasite present. Being very 



