2o8 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



dogs. It is analogous to the eczema, crusta lactea, humid 

 tetter, or scald, so often seen in infants and young children. 



Eczema may be either acute or chronic, and local or 

 general. The two forms usually seen are : i. That which 

 attacks the head, and along the back. 2. That in which 

 the integument generally is red, more particularly visible 

 between the thighs, underneath the arms, and on the abdo- 

 men, and which is the form called " red mange." 



Eczema* is a non-contagious affection of the skin, charac- 

 terised by the eruption of minute vesicles in great numbers, 

 and frequently confluent, upon a surface of irregular form, 

 and usually of considerable extent. The vesicles are so 

 closely aggregated in some situations, as to give rise to one 

 continuous vesicle of great breadth. These larger vesicles, 

 when laid open, appear to be cellular in their structure ; the 

 cellular disposition obviously depending on thejuxtaposition 

 of the numerous small vesicles of which they are composed. 

 The vesicles of eczema terminateby absorption of the fluid 

 which they contain, or by rupture and moist excoriations suc- 

 ceeded by thin crusts, and by furfuraceous desquamation. 

 The eruption is generally successive, and variable in dura- 

 tion ; it sometimes extends to the mucous membrane, and 

 is often developed on the scalp and hair-bearing parts of 

 the body.t • 



All dogs are liable to become eczematous, but those used 

 for sporting purposes more particularly so. One attack pre- 

 disposes the animal to another, and the latter frequently es- 

 tablishes chronic eczema. 



Causes. — Insufficient exercise and injudicious feeding are 

 the two chief causes of eczema in dogs. A too stimulating 

 diet, an excessive supply of animal food, a denial of the 

 exercise necessary in such cases to balance the effect of 



* From Ix-tfrnr, effervere, to boil out. 



t Wilson's " Diseases of the Skin," p. 164. 



