SKIN DISEASES, 399 
The bladder and the urethra leading from it for the passage of 
the urine are often subject to a mucous inflammation characterised 
by pain and constant irritation in passing water, and by a gradual 
dropping of a yellowish discharge from the penis, This is gene- 
rally the result of cold, and may be treated by giving full doses 
of nitre (10 grains) with Epsom salts (half an ounce) in some water 
twice a week. If the discharge and pain are very severe, balsam 
of copaiba may be administered, the best form being the “ cap- 
sules” now sold, of which two form a dose for an average-sized 
dog. Ifthe discharge has spread to the exterior of the penis, the 
wash (20) will be of service. 
SKIN DISEASES. 
Almost all skin diseases depend on neglect in some form; and 
in the dog they arise either from improper management, as in the 
case of “blotch,” or “ surfeit,” or from the presence of parasites, 
asin mange. These three names are al! that are applied to skin 
diseases in the dog, though there can be no doubt that they vary 
greatly, and mange itself is subdivided by different writers so as 
to comprehend several varieties. Fleas, ticks, &c., also irritate 
the skin greatly, and all will therefore be included here, the 
inflammation produced by them beitig entitled to be considered a 
skin disease as much as mange itself, 
Blotch, or surfeit, shows itself in the shape of seabby lumps of 
matted hair on the back, sides, head, and quarters, as well as 
occasionally on the inside of the thighs. They vary from the size 
of a sixpence to that of half a crown, are irregularly round in 
shape, and after about three or four days the scab and hair fall off, 
leaving the skin bare, red, and slightly inclined to discharge a- 
thin serum. The disease is not contagious, and evidently arises 
from gross feeding joined very frequently with want of exercise, and 
often brought out by a gallop after long confinement to the ken- 
nel, The appropriate treatment is to remove the cause by giving 
mild aperients (11), (13), or (14), with low diet and regular exer- 
cise, by the aid of which, continued for sume little time, there is 
seldom any difficulty in effecting a cure. 
An eruption between the toes, similar in its nature and cause to 
