334 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Treatment. Give a tablespoonful of the following mixture in feed 

 twice a day : Saltpeter, cream of tartar, and sulphur, equal parts by 

 weight. The blisters should be opened as soon as formed, to allow the 

 escape of the serum, then apply a wash composed of chloride of zinc, 1 

 dram to 15 ounces of water. When there is any formation of crusts 

 apply carbolized cosmoliue. 



FURUNCULUS BOILS. 



This is an acute affection of the skin, usually involving its whole 

 thickness, characterized by the formation of one or more abscesses, orig- 

 inating generally in a sebaceous gland, sweat-gland, or hair follicle. 

 They usually terminate by absorption, or by the formation of a central 

 core, which sloughs out, leaving a deep round cavity that soon heals. 



Causes. Impoverished state of the blood, the result of kidney dis- 

 eases, or of local friction, or contusions. 



Symptoms. Boils in cattle usually appear singly, not in clusters; 

 they may attain the size of a hen's egg. The abscess begins as a small 

 round nodule, painful to pressure, gradually increases in size until death 

 of the central portion takes place, then the surface of the skin gives 

 way to internal pressure, and the core is released and expelled. Con- 

 stitutional symptoms are generally absent, unless the boils occur in 

 considerable numbers, or by their size involve a great amount of tissue. - 



Treatment. Poulticing to ripen the abscess. If this can not be 

 done, apply coinphorated oil two or three times a day until the core is 

 formed. As soon as the central or most prominent part becomes soft, 

 the abscess should be opened to release the core. Then use carbolized 

 cosnioliue once a day until the healing is completed. If the animal is 

 in poor condition give tonics copperas, gentian, ginger, and sulphur, 

 equal parts by weight, one tablespooiiful twice a day. If the animal 

 manifests a feverish condition of the system, administer half an ounce 

 of saltpeter twice a day, continuing it several days or a week. 



FAULTY SECRETIONS AND ABNORMAL GROWTHS OF THE SKIN. 

 PITYRIASIS SEBORRHCEA DANDRUFF SCURF. 



This is a condition characterized by an excessive secretion of sebace- 

 ous matter, forming upon the skin in small crusts or scales. 



Causes. It is due to a functional derangement of the sebaceous 

 glands, usually accompanied by dryness and loss of pliancy of the skin. 

 The animal is hidebound, as it is commonly termed, thin in flesh, 

 inclined to rub, and very frequently lousy. The condition is observed 

 most often towards the spring of the year. Animals that are contin- 

 ually housed, the skins of which receive no cleaning, generally present 

 a coat filled with fine scales, composed of epithelium from the epider- 

 mis and dried sebaceous matter. This, however, is a physiological con- 

 dition, and compatible with perfect health. 



