Eczema 301 
ECZEMA, INFLAMMATION OF THE SKIN 
Eezema is inflammation of the skin, associated with 
small blisters. It is usually found in horses in good 
flesh and that are fed on rich food. It is most com- 
mon toward the spring of the year, when the hair is 
loug, or when the animal is beginning to shed its 
coat. 
The skin is red and slightly thickened, with small 
eruptive blisters that discharge a gummy _ substance 
that dries about the roots of the hair. When the 
horse 1s driven or worked so that he sweats, intense 
itching of the skin results. This is must severe in the 
region of the neck, although the legs are frequently 
affected. 
If the hair is long, it should be clipped. The 
parts should be thoroughly cleansed by washing with tar 
soap, then wiped dry, and a small quantity of oxide of 
zinc ointment, or other bland ointment, rubbed into 
the skin. Internally, the horse should be given four 
ounces of Epsom salts once daily until the bowels 
move freely; then the following: 
Nitrate of potash ‘ 4 ounces 
Common salt ; a 4 mg 
Sulfur nae ‘ ok 2 oe 
Pulverize, mix, and give a heaping teaspoonful in the 
feed twice daily. 
In all cases of itchy skin diseases, a thorough and 
careful examination should be made for parasites, 
especially lice. 
