226 Hounds 



blotch, red mange, parasitic mange and black mange, 

 the last named being one of the worst skin diseases 

 affecting the dog. The term blotch is a very am- 

 biguous one, and might be expressive of parasitic or 

 non-parasitic mange. It is frequently employed 

 synonymously with that of red mange. Eczema is 

 also another term largely used, and unquestionably 

 covers a multitude of skin diseases, but nevertheless 

 it is a very convenient designation, and one that 

 usually appeals to the dog-owner as sufficiently 

 distinctive. 



Eczema 



This is a very common skin disease, assuming acute 

 or chronic forms, and making its appearance upon 

 any part of the body, but particularly prone to 

 attack such parts as inside the thighs, under the fore- 

 arms, on the face or round the eyes, on the nose, 

 breast, etc. It is not, however, confined to these 

 situations, and is occasionally seen in its acute form 

 between the toes. The preliminary stage of this 

 affection is really erythema, or congestion of the 

 skin, denoted by redness, either as an isolated patch 

 or in a diffuse form, the latter being a fairly common 

 manifestation of it. This is succeeded by a con- 

 siderable degree of irritation, and the appearance of 

 minute vesicles upon the inflamed patch. These 

 subsequently rupture, and the surface becomes 



