DISKASES OF THE SKIN. — EXTERNAL PARASITES. 205 



cases of a similar kind. In this morbidly sensitive state of 

 the skin and of the eruption, I have found no remedy act so 

 well as a solution of nitrate of silver in distilled water, in the 

 proportion of one grain to the ounce." * 



In such cases, constitutional treatment is not to be over- 

 looked. Small doses of arsenicum or calomel are attended 

 with considerable benefit, iron and quinine also are of ser- 

 vice. The animal should be kept dry, and the bedding clean. 

 Exercise and nutritious feeding must likewise be observed. 



A species of eczema is not unfrequently produced through 

 the incautious use of mercury {eczema mercuriale or hydrargy- 

 ria). " An eruption occurs, characterized by round irritable 

 patches of skin from which a secretion oozes, and which are 

 denuded of hair. The skin is at first red, swollen, and after- 

 wards rough and hard. In dogs the eruption occurs chiefly on 

 the limbs and scrotum. The general symptoms are loss of 

 appetite, salivation, closure of the eyelids, great dulness, offen- 

 sive exhalations from the skin, and sometimes death. Re- 

 coveries occur slowly.t 



ERYTHEMA. 



Dogs are occasionally affected with superficial inflamma- 

 tion of the skin, which chiefly takes place on the face, espe- 

 cially about the mouth, and the extremities. The inflammation 

 occurs in patches, which are throughout attended with but 

 little heat or irritation, except in the latter stages of the affec- 

 tion, when the skin on the portions attacked peels off, leaving 

 the surface underneath red and sensitive ; then more or less 

 febrile disturbance is apt to take place. When the pad of the 

 foot is involved, the animal walks with reluctance and evident 



* Wilson's " Diseases of the Skin, p." 191. 



t Gamgee's " Our Domestic Animals in Health and Disease," vol. ii. 



P- 133- 



