THE SKIN. 349 



horse we are enabled to trace the majority of them to 

 improper or neglected grooming and exposure of various 

 kinds, either local or general. These influences seldom 

 affect the ox, and his skin is less delicate than that of the 

 horse ; hence it is less liable to disorder. Nevertheless, 

 as may be seen from the above list the diseases of the 

 skin of the ox are numerous, and deserving of careful 

 attention. 



Suhsection 1. — Non-parasitic Diseases. 



Inflammatory, Non-parasitic Disorders may be 



included under the term Dermatitis. Of these, Ery- 

 thema is the most simple. It consists of a diffused 

 redness of a portion of the superficial layer of the 

 dermis, which gradually blends with the healthy skin. 

 It is characterised by disappearance of colour on pres- 

 sure, but its hasty recurrence. Other signs of inflam- 

 mation are little marked. It leads to vesication, effusion, 

 and sometimes ulceration. It depends upon slight 

 irritation long continued, as friction, dirt, mild irri- 

 tants (as urine in cases of incontinency), and in some 

 cases is attributable to intrinsic causes, such as indiges- 

 tion and ingestion of acrid matters. Treatment is seldom 

 required for simple, though a laxative dose is beneficial in 

 severe cases ; also lead lotion may be applied locally. 

 This disease sometimes tends to a chronic character, 

 as when it consists in ulcerations of a sluggish nature, 

 of which the most important are those the seat of which 

 is the teats. This is described as Eeythema mammillarum, 

 sore teats J or chro7iic erytJwma, and occurs especially in 

 newly- calved animals, though not infrequent under other 

 circumstances. In some cows the skin is very delicate, 

 and this disorder is particularly liable to develop, and is 

 difficult to cure. They are constantly affected while the 

 calf roughly manipulates the organ, and the ulcers assume a 

 very sluggish character. The calf should be removed and 

 fed by hand, the milk daily drawn off by means of a milk 

 syphon, and refrigerant lotion should be applied to the 



