DISEASES. 53 



"Dogs are particularly subject to skin diseases, that are the bane alike of the 

 breeder keeping a large number of dogs in kennels, or the single house pet. While 

 true dog itch is common enough, ninety per cent of all skin diseases are eczema. 



"There is a close relation between the skin of the dog and his digestive organs, 

 and a deranged stomach will quickly find expression through an eruption of the 

 skin; any poverty or plethoric condition of the blood will also be expressed in the 

 same way. If there is any defect or unhealthy condition of the digestive tract, 

 and it is called upon to digest unsuitable food, it is only a question of time before 

 poisons are introduced into the blood that will produce inflammation and eruptions 

 of the skin. Strictly speaking, eczema is an inflammation of the skin due to the 

 causes above mentioned, and numerous others such as old, dirty, damp bedding, 

 lack of exercise, over-feeding, starvation, irritation from insects, lice, fleas or from 

 true mange. In most cases it can be ascribed to a disordered condition of the blood 

 and general system. 



"Eczema assumes a variety of forms. In one very common form there is first a 

 redness of the entire skin with a dry scaly dandruff that flakes off. In another 

 form there is an eruption of small distinct pimples or papules that do not always 

 break but can be easily felt, like shot under the skin. In another form there is a 

 formation of scurvy crusts of a yellowish white color that smells like mice, and 

 underneath this crust are small, cup-shaped ulcers. 



"Follicular mange, or red mange, is due to a sort of vegetable fungoid mite 

 that lives at the base of the hair and 'around the sebaceus gland. It turns the 

 skin a sort of brownish red, kills the hair root, and is most commonly found along 

 the back near the root of the tail. 



"In the commonest form of eczema there will first be noticed a patch on some 

 part of the dog's body that is inflamed or covered with pimples. These pimples 

 increase in size and become a vesicle filled with a clear turbulent or purulent fluid. 

 This sore breaks, the fluid escapes, runs over the skin which it irritates, and dries 

 into scabs which mat the hair together. The inflammation affects the hair follicle, 

 the hair drops out leaving bare spots, and there is a constr exudate of matter, 

 which spreads and forms more bare spots. The skin become ulcerated or thick- 

 ened and wrinkled. The dog is tormented by the intolerable itching past all point 

 of endurance, scratches himself until he bleeds, cannot sleep or eat, gets no rest 

 and becomes a mere wreck of his former self. 



Treatment. As previously stated, eczema and inflammation of the skin are 

 largely due to constitutional causes, and there is no specific treatment or radical 

 cure for all cases, and the owner must exercise his power of judgment and reason, 

 and possibly try two or three different prparations before effecting a cure. 



"The following course must be pursued. First make a change in the animal's 

 diet if he is being fed on grains and vegetables with little or no meat, give him an 

 increased amount of meat both lean and raw, with little or no bread or vegetables, 

 and vice versa. If the dog is fat and plethoric, generally prosperous, and inclined 

 to be constipated, give him a good laxative pill every night and fast for twenty- 

 four hours. If he is thin and unthrifty give cod liver oil emulsion with from two 

 to five grains of the sulphate of iron or Sergeant's, Dent's, or Glover's Condition 

 Pills. The fat plethoric dog should have a Wood purifying and cooling pill twice 

 a day for some time, either Dent's, Glover's or Spratt's, or from one to four 

 drams of cream of tartar, according to size of dog, or five grains of the bromide 

 of potash, or the following prescription: 



