346 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



fluid. The blisters may be isolated and not very large, or one blister 

 may cover a very large surface. Wlien the burn is very severe the 

 skin may be wholly devitalized, or the injury may extend into the 

 deeper structures beneath the skin. Then sloughs will occur, fol- 

 lowed by a contraction of the parts in healing; if on a limb, this 

 may render the animal stiff. When the bum or scald has been a 

 severe one, the resulting pain is gi-eat and the constitutional disturb- 

 ance very marked. 



Treatment. — For a superficial bum use a mixture of equal parts of 

 limewater and linseed oil, or common white paint — white lead ground 

 in oil. This will exclude the atmosphere and protect the inflamed 

 skin. If it is not convenient to obtain this, chimney soot, flour, or 

 starch may be spread on the wound (dry), and covered with cotton 

 batting and light bandage if possible. The blisters should be opened 

 to let the contained fluid escaj^e, but do not pull off the thin cuticle 

 which has been raised by the blister. AVhen the bum is extensive 

 and deep sloughing occurs, the parts should be treated, like other 

 deep wounds, by poulticing, astringent washes, etc. Wlien the sys- 

 tem has sustained much shock, stimulants may be required internally, 

 such as 4 ounces of whisky or 2 drams of carbonate of ammonia every 

 hour until the animal rallies. Wlien the pain is very great, hypo- 

 dermic injections of G grains of morphia may be administered every 

 six hours. 



Frosthite on any portion of the body may be treated as recom- 

 mended in the article on diseases of the ears. 



EMPHYSEMA (AIB OR GAS UNDER THE SKIN). 



Emphysema of the skin is not a true disease of the skin, but we 

 shall mention it as a pathological condition. It is characterized by 

 a distention of the skin with air or gas contained in the subcutaneous 

 areolar tissue. It may depend upon a septic condition of the blood, 

 as in anthrax or blackleg; or air may be forced under the skin about 

 the head, neck, and shoulders, as a result of rupture of the windpipe. 

 It occui-s in the region of the chest and shoulders from penetrating 

 wounds of the chest and lung, and occasionally follows puncture of 

 the rumen when the escaping gas is retained under the skin. 



Symptoms. — The skin is enormously distended over a greater or 

 less portion of the body; thus any region of the body may lose its 

 natural contour and appear like a monstrosity. There is a peculiar 

 crackling beneath the skin when the hand is passed over it, and on 

 tapping it with the fingers a resonant drumlike sound is elicited. 



Treatment. — Puncture the distended skin with a clean, broad- 

 bladed knife and press out the contained air. Further treatment 

 must be directed with a view to the removal of the cause. 



