ECZEMA. 297 
and should be put on with a brush, after being warmed; and generally one 
application daily will suffice. It must not, however, be used except on sur- 
faces from which the hairs have fallen or been clipped, because it would hope- 
lessly tangle and mat them together. 
Where the eczematous spots are so located that the dog cannot bite them, 
a mixture of equal parts of the ointment of white precipitate and simple oint- 
ment acts favorably. This is especially adapted to scaly eruptions around the 
eyes and ears. 
Another ointment serviceable in like eruptions in those parts, also where 
the eczematous sores have healed and the skin has been left scaly, — provided 
the dog cannot reach the spots with his mouth, — is the officinal ointment of 
red oxide of mercury. 
From the large number of preparations described in the foregoing, one or 
more to hit every case ought to be found. 
Summarizing briefly, during the early stages of eczema, and while there is 
much inflammation of the skin, the applications should be mild and soothing. 
As long as there is much oozing, powders are indicated, ointments or 
lotions being of but little if any benefit. 
Crusts or scabs must always be first removed, because medicines cannot 
penetrate them and affect the parts beneath. This having been done, if there 
is much inflammation where they were located, soothing applications should 
be made for a time, as in an early stage; and the inflammation having sub- 
sided, one of the stimulating preparations which contain the oil of cade, tar, 
or some like-acting agent should be applied. 
The fact deserves repetition, for the sake of emphasis, that seldom cana 
case be cured by one means alone; indeed, oftentimes several must be used. 
Moreover, a measure that has acted well in many cases may be worthless in 
the next, and it be necessary to try two or three, or more, preparations before 
one is found that is adapted. Another important fact is, that frequently 
different parts of the body or limbs require very different treatment, — thus in 
one instance with a soothing application, another with a preparation of tar, 
still another with an absorbing powder; and so on, according to the various 
conditions. 
Here it is well to draw attention to the fact that, as a rule, for use on long- 
haired dogs, lotions are to be preferred to ointments, especially if the latter 
contain tar or resin of any kind, since they cause the hair to become matted 
together, and thus add to the difficulties of treatment. 
Another quite important fact can properly be stated here, namely, that 
one great secret in curing skin diseases, also in healing wounds, lies in making 
the applications often enough to keep the inflamed parts soft and slightly moist, 
— not allowing them to become dry and somewhat hard, as they must gener- 
ally be if left to themselves. 
