144 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



Frequently the vesicles change into pustules, pus- 

 tular eczema then being the result. The blisters en- 

 large and their contents grow dull and become pur- 

 ulent. The pustule may remain isolated, spread in 

 groups, or run together, producing patches of vari- 

 ous size. The hairs then become erect, stick to 

 .each other, and are glued together by the exudate 

 into stiff tufts, which become felted and are easily 

 pulled out or fall out spontaneously. The skin 

 thus laid bare is found to be thickened, exquisitely 

 tender, and covered with a yellowish, creamy, 

 sticky pus. 



Healing follows by the drying up of the purulent 

 discharge into scabs and crusts, under which sup- 

 puration persists for some time. Similar localized 

 purulent inflammations of the Skin occur, without 

 any preceding stages, as a direct result of mechani- 

 cal, chemical, or thermal irritation. 



Eczema may in all its stages become chronic. 

 The most important factor here is to prevent the 

 patient from rubbing the affected areas. 



The changes produced in the skin by chronic 

 eczema consist in persistent hyperemia, higher tem- 

 perature, and thickening. The skin gradually be- 

 comes hard and dry and loses its elasticity. The 

 hairs become thin and stray (compression and 

 atrophy of the hair papillae and their blood supply). 



The condition of the patient in ordinary cases 

 remains unaltered except for restlessness and often 

 extreme thirst. In cases of long duration, however, 

 the continued irritation in time produces emaciation 

 and, in weakly subjects, results in cachexia and 

 death. Acute eczema may last for from one to three 

 weeks, while the chronic form of the disease persists 

 for months or years and is frequently incurable. 



Treatment. The treatment varies both according 

 to stage and individuality. The main obstacle to 



