SURFEIT 277 



the skin of the human being which follow unwhole- 

 some or indigestible food. This complaint, however, 

 most frequently exists after or during the time the 

 horse is shedding his hair, and at which period there 

 exists a stronger tendency to stomach-affections, and 

 consequently indigestion has been supposed to affect 

 the skin in the manner described. Poisonous sub- 

 stances taken into the stomach, such as herbs and 

 mow-burnt hay — the chemical qualities, in the latter 

 case, having changed its properties — have been known 

 to cause this eruption. Drinking cold water in im- 

 moderate quantity, as well as improper exposure to 

 cold air when the animal was over-heated, have been 

 known to induce affections of this kind. There can 

 be little doubt but it is caused by some obstruction 

 of the pores of the skin, which produces swellings 

 around them, and depending upon a primary affection 

 of the cuticle, or from a sympathy with the digestive 

 organs. 



Remedies. — The following alterative must be 

 administered : — 



Levigated antimony . . . 2 J drachms, 

 Purified nitre .... 3 drachms, 

 Sulphur 4 drachms ; 



given at night, either in a mash, or formed into a ball 

 with the ordinary substances ; to be repeated for 

 several nights in succession, with the use of warm 

 clothing, which, together with heat of the stable, will 

 cause the sulphur and antimony to act with more 

 effect upon the skin. His drink should be slightly 

 heated, and a moderate quantity of green meat should 

 be given him, if it can be procured at the time. In 

 the mornings he should be walked out for half-an-hour, 

 but his clothing must be warmer than usual. His 

 food must consist of mashes. 



