DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 667 



more plentiful, and of a more sticky character, consequentlr 

 reqtiiring a longer and more extensive application of the hot 

 washing process. As preventives, allow the hair to remain on 

 the legs from the upper part of the hocks and knees downwards, 

 wash with cold water, clothe, and bandage. 



" T strongly condemn the practice of washing hunter's legs 

 before they return to their stables, as I also do that of carriage 

 and hack horses when left at hotel stables for an hour or two, as 

 in such cases they are never rubbed dry or bandaged ; the result 

 is often either cracked heels or mud-fever. 



" Treatment. — Mix eight parts of glycerine and one of plumbi 

 dia. sol., and apply once or twice daily ; give walking exercise, 

 and seldom will there be any other medical treatment required." 



Treatment of Erythema. — In limited erythema, aperients, rest, 

 poultices to the parts, succeeded by diuretics, tonics, and the 

 local application of zinc ointment, or, what is very useful, a 

 thick liniment made by adding two ounces of liquor plumbi to 

 six or eight ounces of olive oiL The cause, in the acute as well 

 as in the more chionic form, must be inquired into, and, if 

 possible, removed. Chronic erythema requires to be treated 

 by astringents, avoidance of moisture, diuretics, tonics ; and, 

 should these fail, the part is to be pencilled over with a solution 

 of nitrate of silver (one drachm to the ounce of water) ; or a mild 

 blister is to be applied, and the system generally altered by 

 the administration of the liquor arsenicalis for several days or 

 weeks. 



In the more diffuse form the whole of the parts affected are 

 to be fomented with warm water, and dressed over with the zinc 

 or lead preparation : bandages do harm. The constitutional 

 treatment: — Purgatives, febrifuges, diuretics, succeeded by 

 tonics ; and should the case be obstinate, arsenic or quinine. 



Horses, when clipped very closely, and since machine clipping 

 has become general, suffer very frequently from the disease, 

 which manifests itself as a diffuse form of erythema a few days 

 after the operation. The inflammation extends over the greater 

 part of the sui-face of the body, and terminates in a few days in 

 small patches of desquamation of the cuticle and hair. Before 

 clipping machines were used, a form of erythema was found, 

 resulting from the ' effects of the singeing which generally coin- 

 pleted the operation imperfectly performed by the scissors. 



