DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 333 



grazing cattle appears the pasturage should be changed, and the affected 

 parts of the animal thoroughly anointed once a day with sweet oil, con- 

 taining 2 drams of carbolic acid to the pint. This should be continued 

 until the crusts soften and begin to drop off, then the parts may be 

 thoroughly cleansed with warm water and soap. Subsequently apply 

 the white precipitate ointment or carbolized cosmoline daily until the 

 parts are healed. 



ECTHYMA. 



This is an affection characterized by the formation of one or more 

 large, isolated, flat pustules, situated upon an inflamed base. They 

 occur mostly where the skin is thin and unprotected by hair on the 

 udder, inside of thighs, and on or about the external genital organs. 



Causes. Disorder of the blood in debilitated conditions of the system ; 

 occasionally as the result of septic infection, by discharges following 

 imperfect or tedious cleansing after calving. 



Symptoms. Large round or oval flattened pustules form, from the 

 size of a pea to that of a chestnut. They are yellowish in color, sur- 

 rounded by a red sensitive margin. Afterwards the pustules become 

 reddish from admixture with blood, and soon dry into brown, flat 

 crusts. The duration of each pustule may extend over a period of two 

 weeks; meanwhile new ones form, until the cause is removed. 



Ecthyma differs from impetigo in the size of the pustules and crust, 

 and differs from boils in not having a core in the center. 



Treatment. General tonic treatment internally. Removal of offend- 

 ing discharges and disinfection of the affected region, by frequent 

 bathing with creolin, 1 ounce to a pint of water. Open each pustule 

 as soon as it forms and cauterize the bottom with nitrate of silver, or 

 dilute liquor nitrate of mercury. If crusts are present they must be 

 soaked loose by frequent applications of oil or lard, and then treated 

 with carbolized cosmoline until the skin is restored to health. 



PEMPHIGUS WATER BLISTERS. 



This is an inflammatory disease of the skin, characterized by succes- 

 sive formations of rounded, irregularly-shaped water blisters, varying 

 in size from a pea to a hen's egg. 



Ca UHCH. Obscure. 



Symptom*. The formation of a blister is preceded by a congestion 

 or swelling of the skin. Yellowish -colored water collects beneath the 

 cuticle, which raises the latter from its bed in the form of a blister. 

 The blisters appear in a succession of crops; as soon as one crop dis- 

 appears another forms. They usually occur in clusters, each one being 

 distinct, or they may coalesce. Each erop usually runs its course in a 

 week. Itching or burning sensations attend this disease, which cause 

 the animal to rub, thereby frequently producing excoriations and for- 

 mation of crust on the affected region. 



