106 THE CAT 



ish, which may afterward become mattery, 

 from the inside of the external ear. If this 

 continues, the delicate skin lining the ear be- 

 comes ulcerated and excessively painful. The 

 cat scratches at its ear in attempting to relieve 

 the pain, and produces wounds on the ear itself, 

 which from constant rubbing and irritation 

 become chronic ulcers. 



The cause of eczema is a lymphatic condi- 

 tion in the constitution of the animal. Certain 

 families are more lymphatic than others, and 

 they are predisposed to it. Constant confine- 

 ment in the house, want of exercise, and over- 

 feeding are the principal exciting causes. 



We also have, however, another form of ec- 

 zema which is due to want of nutrition. This 

 we sometimes find in young, half-grown kit- 

 tens, or cats which have been badly nourished 

 or almost starved. 



The treatment of eczema is based, first, 

 essentially, upon a strict attention to diet and 

 regime. An over-fed cat must be starved 

 a poorly fed cat must be properly nourished. 

 Diuretics and laxatives in the form of five-grain 

 doses of Rochelle salts or Glauber's salts, and 



