208 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: 1. 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 erroneously 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 terminate by 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 ot 
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 toostimulating . 
diet, an excessive supply of animal food, a denial of the 
exercise necessary in such cases to balance the effect of 
* From éx@eiv, efervere, to boil out. 
}¥ Wilson’s “ Diseases of the Skin,” p. 164. 
