DERMATITIS. 23¢ 
the hind legs of low-bred horses having long hair and working in the 
mud and dampness. The pathogenous action of dampness, manure and 
irritating fluids is no longer discussed. 
Between this affection and chronic verrucous pododermatitis (canker 
of the foot) there are close relations, and they seem to differ only in 
their localization. What is known of its nature, however, is sufficient to 
suggest a strong and sure treatment. While some authors consider it as 
an affection entirely local, and many as a common eczematous manifesta- 
tion, it is related to a general morbid condition (lymphatism, arthritism). 
The frequency of the disease on several extremities together, and the re- 
sistance it offers to the treatments used to prevent it, are serious argu- 
ments in support of this last opinion. 
The preventive treatment rests altogether on the etiology: avoid pro- 
longed action on the skin of the legs of mud or irritating fluids; dress at 
once and with care all wounds, fissures, scratches and cutaneous phleg- 
masias of those regions. 
As soon as the disease is developed, a local active treatment is re- 
quired. ‘To name all the means recommended would be tedious. Let us 
consider only the principal ones. 
Although the acute phenomena and lameness are often missing, there 
are cases in which the inflammation of the skin is very pronounced. This 
was overcome in the past by bleeding, emollient poultices, a seton on the 
thigh or on the chest ; now it must be treated with tepid antiseptic lotions 
or baths. Twice a day a lukewarm soaking of cresyl (2-3 per cent.) or 
of sulphate of copper (3-4 per cent.) should be given. Between these, 
the regions should be covered with bandages moist with a similar mix- 
ture ; soon the inflammation will subside, the region becomes cleaner and 
the secretion diminishes. Apply astringents or slight caustics. Many prac- 
titioners prefer the lotions or the dressings of Villate solution, or of sulphate 
of copper (4-6 per cent.). Moller recommends the mixture of sulphuric 
acid and alcohol (1 in 10-20) applied as dressings. Prangé’s mixture (alum 
125, sulphate of zinc 125, arsenious acid 10, sulphuric acid 5, water 1000), 
the caustic liquid of Veret (sulphate of copper 10, sulphuric acid 12, 
vinegar 78), that of Delabére-Blaine (corrosive sublimate 30, 22° alcohol 
30, water 1 liter), have their patrons. All may be used with advantage if 
antiseptics have been applied previously. 
With the precaution of keeping the animal from the continued action 
of water or mud, moderate work is advantageous. 
After recovery, relapses are avoided by good hygiene, cleanliness of the 
places where animals are kept, attention to the clean condition of the ex- 
tremities, and by the administration now end then of internal treatment. 
Many foreign authors continue to consider as a special dermatitis the 
