439 



INFLAMMATION WITH BLISTERS — ECZEMA. 



In this the skin is congested, th'ckened, warm (white skins are red- 

 dened), and shows a thick croi> of little blisters formed by effnsions 

 of a straw-colored fluid between the true skin and the cuticle. The 

 blisters may be of an}^ size from a millet seed to a pea, and often 

 crack open and allow the escape of the fluid which concretes as a 

 slightly yellowish scab or crust around the roots of the hairs. This 

 exudation and incrustation are especially common where the hairs 

 arc long, thick, and numerous, as in the region of the pastern of 

 heavy draught horses. Eczema maj' appear on any part of the body, 

 but in horses it is especially common on the heels and the lower parts 

 of the limbs, and less frequently on the neck, shoulder, and abdomen. 

 The limbs appear to be especially liable because of their dependent 

 Ijosition, all blood having to return from them against the action of 

 gravity, and congestions and swellings being common, because of the 

 abundance of blood vessels in this i)art of the skin, and l>ecause of 

 the frequent contact with the irritant dung and urine and their 

 ammonical emanations. The legs further suffer from contact with 

 wet and mud when at work, from snow and ice, from draughts of cold 

 air on the wet limbs, from washing with caustic soaps, or from the 

 relaxing effects of a too deep and abundant litter. Among other 

 causes may be iiamed indigestions and the i)resence of irritant matters 

 in the blood and sweat, the result of patent medicated foods and con- 

 dition powders (aromatics, stimulants), green food, new hay, new 

 oats, buckwheat, wheat, maize, diseased potatoes, smut or ergot in 

 grains, decomposing green food, brewer's grains, or kitchen garbage. 

 The excitement in the skin, caused by shedding the coat, lack of 

 grooming, hot weather, hot boiled or steamed food, conduces to tlie 

 eruption. Lastly, any sudden change of food may induce it. 



The blisters may in part go on to suppuration so that vesicles and 

 pustules often appear on the same patch, and when raw from rubbing 

 the true nature of the eruption may be comijletely masked. In high- 

 fed horses, kept in close stables with little Avork, eczema of the limbs 

 may last for months and years. It is a very troublesome affection in 

 draught stallions. 



Treatment. — This disease is so often the result of indigestion that a 

 laxative of 1 pound Glauber's salts in 3 or 4 quarts Avater, or 1^ innts, 

 olive oil is often demanded to clear away irritants from the alimen- 

 tai-y canal. Following this, in recent and acute cases, give 2 drams 

 of acetate or bicarbonate of potash twice a day in the drinking water. 

 If the bowels still become costive give daily 1 ounce sulphate of soda 

 and 20 grains powdered nux vomica. In debilitated horses combine 

 the niLx vomica with one-half ounce powdered gentian root. As a 

 ^vash for the skin use 1 dram bicarbonate of soda and 1 dram carbolic 

 acid in a quart of water, after having cleansed the surface with tepid 



