General Principles of Treatment of Skin Diseases. 463 



All dermatites are liable to show special features of inveteracy, 

 or amenability to treatment according to surrounding condi- 

 tions — hygienic or otherwise. 



GENERAI, PRINCIPI^ES OP TREATMENT OP SKIN 



DISEASES. 



General and local. Diet: wholesome diet following a laxative : restricted, 

 generous, vegetable. Rest, avoiding congestion, perspiration, friction, 

 stretching, pressure. Cleanliness. Diuretics. Purgatives. Tonics. Al- 

 teratives. Sulphur. Antimony. Phosphorus. Calcium sulphide. Pilo- 

 carpin. Baths, tepid, warm, soapy, alterative. Emollients, simple, medi- 

 cated. Drying powders. Protective films. Stimulating and antiseptic 

 applications. Parasiticides. Caustics. Counter-irritants. Bandages. 



These must be general and local, and the first hygienic, dietetic 

 and medicinal. 



The diet is especially important in eruptions due to poisons 

 such as green food, distillery refuse, silage, roots, ergoted or 

 smutty food, musty fodder, irritant plants in hay or grain 

 feed, buckwheat, etc. In many cases a change to sound fodder 

 and a laxative to clear the alimentary canal of the irritant, may 

 be all that is required. In cases where the feeding has been 

 parsimonious, a judiciously gradual change to a generous diet 

 may be required. Again when the feed has been unduly rich, 

 or spiced as in the patent food for stock or the table leavings 

 for dogs, a plainer, simpler and less exciting diet will be 

 called for. Indigestions, urinary and hepatic disorders due to 

 diet may be often corrected by a more judicious ration. 



Rest is a most important element in horses and hunting 

 dogs. When pressure of the harness keeps up the irritation, 

 or when active movement reopens cracks in the tense rigid 

 congested skin of the heel, carpus or tarsus of the horse, the 

 parts must be kept quiescent. When on the other hand chaps 

 and fissures are caused and maintained by stocking, the patient 

 may do much better with exercise. In skin congestions which 

 are aggravated by work and increased cutaneous circulation, 

 rest is imperative. 



Cleanliness is no less imperative. Many cases are started 



