425 



open and allow the escape of the fluid which concretes as a sli8htl7 

 yellowish scao or crust around the roots of the hairs. This exudatiop 

 and incrustation are especially common where the hairs are long, thick^ 

 and numerous, as in the region of the pastern of heavy draught horses. 

 Eczema may appear on any part of the body, but in horses it is espec- 

 ially common on tlie 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 position, all blood hav- 

 ing to return from them against the action of gravity, and congestions 

 and swellings being common, because of the abundance of blood ves- 

 sels in this part of the skin, and because of the frequent contact with 

 the irritant dung and urine and their ammouiacal 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 named indigestions and the pres- 

 ence of irritant matters in the blood and sweat, the result of patent- 

 medicated foods and condition 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 b^' shedding the 

 coat, lack of grooming, hot weather, hot boiled or steamed food, conduces 

 to the 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 completely masked. lu high-fed 

 horses, kept in close stables with little work, 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 water, or 1^ pints 

 olive oil is often demanded to clear away irritants from the alimentary 

 canal. Following this, in recent and acute cases, give 2 drams of acet- 

 ate 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 uux 

 vomica with one-half ounce powdered gentian root. As a wash 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 water. 

 Employ the same precautions as regards feeding, stabling, and care of 

 harness as in simple congestion of the skin. 



In the more inveterate forms of eczema more active treatment is re- 

 quired. Soal» the scabs in fresh sweet oil, and in a few hours remove 

 these with tepid water and castile soap; then apply an ointment of sul- 

 phur or iodide of sulphur day by day. If this seems to be losing its 

 effect altera week, change for mercurial ointment or a solution of sul- 



