DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



333 



Treatment— Remove all crusts by washing with soap and water, 

 then apply acetic acid, sulphur ointment, tincture of iodine or nitrate 

 of mercury ointment once a day. Cleanse the stable and whitewash 

 it to destroy the spores scattered by the crusts. 



WOUNDS OF THE SKIN. 



SNAKE BITES. 

 [See discussion of this subject in chapter on "Poisons and poisoning."] 



VENOMOUS STINGS. 

 [See discussion of this subject in chapter on " Poisons and poisoning."] 



BURNS AND SCALDS. 



This is a rare accident among cattle, yet in cases of fire it may occur. 

 The application of heat, whetherdry or moist, unless sufficient instantly 

 to destroy the life of a part, is always followed by the development of 

 vesicles, or blisters, which contain a thin, watery fluid. The blisters 

 may be isolated and not very large, or one blister may cover a very 

 large surface. When the burn is very severe the skin may be wholly 

 devitalized, or the injury may extend into the deeper structures 

 beneath the skin. Then sloughs will occur, followed by a contraction 

 of the parts in healing; if on a limb, this may render the animal stiff. 

 When the burn or scald has been a severe one, the resulting pain is 

 great and the constitutional disturbance very marked. 



Treatment. — For a superficial burn use a mixture of equal parts of 

 limewater and linseed oil, or common white paint — white lead ground 

 in oil. This will exclude the atmosphere and protect the inflamed 

 skin. If it is not convenient to obtain this, chimney soot, flour, or 

 starch may be spread on the wound (dry), and covered with cotton 

 batting and light bandage if possible. The blisters should be opened 

 to let the contained fluid escape, but do not pull off the thin cuticle 

 which has been raised by the blister. When the burn is extensive 

 and deep sloughing occurs, the parts should be treated, like other 

 deep wounds, by poulticing, astringent washes, etc. When the sys- 

 tem has sustained much shock, stimulants may be required internally, 

 such as 4 ounces of whisky or 2 drams of carbonate of ammonia every 

 hour until the animal rallies. When the pain is very great, hypo- 

 dermic injections of 6 grains of morphia may be administered every 

 six hours. 



Frostbite on any portion of the body may be treated as recommended 

 in the article on diseases of the ears. 



EMPHYSEMA (AIR OR GAS UNDER THE SKIN). 



Emphysema of the skin is not a true disease of the skin, but we shall 

 mention it as a pathological condition. It is characterized by a dis- 



