50 CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS. 



V. Condition of the skin. The skin of a healthy animal feels 

 pliable and elastic, and is movable upon its underlying tissues. If a 

 fold of it be drawn out between the fingers, it soon regains its former 

 place when released. 



Where the animal is poorly nourished, out of condition, 

 or emaciated from wasting disease, the skin feels hard and 

 leather-like (sclerosis, induration). [If the subcutis has also 

 lost its elasticity, and the skin adheres closely to the under- 

 lying parts, and cannot readily be drawn out in folds, it 

 causes a condition that is commonly termed "hide boundness"]. 



In the hide bound animal the epidermis is dry and 

 tough, the outer epidermal layer becomes loose and may be 

 easily removed. 



The skin is thus coated with a thick layer of scales and 

 the hair filled with dandruff. 



The exhalations of the skin sometimes have a 

 penetrating urinous odor, noted not infrequently from bladder 

 rupture, the contents of the organ being poured into the ab- 

 dominal cavity. This condition is noted following urethral 

 calculi in the ox. 



Diseases of the Skin. 



The following terms are most commonly employed to denomi- 

 nate the phenomena of skin lesions: 



1. Spots (maculae) are well circumscribed abnormal colora- 

 tions of the skin. 



2. Papules (papulae) are small cutaneous elevations of solid 

 consistency varying in size from that of a pin head to that of a 

 small pea. 



3. Vesicles (vesiculae) are elevations of the outer epidermal 

 layer due to the accumulation of fluid beneath. They vary from 

 the size of a millet-seed to that of a pea. 



4. Blisters (bullae) are large vesicles. 



5. Pustules (pustulae) are vesicles containing pus, and are 

 therefore colored yellow. 



6. Ulcers (ulcera) are suppurating wound surfaces which re- 

 sult from necrosis of tissue. 



