DISEASES OP THE SKIN 289 



f reauently seen in the hindlegs of horses after repeated attacks 

 K)f cellulitis, lymphangitis, ulcerations; in these cases the 

 acute inflammatory symptoms subside, but infected foci 

 remain in the tissues and lead to chronic irritation, as a result 

 of which an excessive amount of connective tissue is produced, 

 .and thus the enlargement of the affected parts. 



What is eczema, and to what extent is it of surgical interest ? 

 Eezema is an acute or chronic dermatitis running a typi- 

 cal course, and of surgical interest especially in the horse, 

 -where its seat of predilection is the flexion surface of joints, 

 •especially the fetlock. 



Under what common name is eczematous dermatitis usually 

 known ? 



Depending upon the part -which is affected and stage of 

 "the disease, it is known as cracked heels, scratches, grease. 



Which varieties of dermatitis are observed in scratches, 

 cracked heels and grease. 

 1. Dermatitis erythematosa : This is the lightest form of 

 "the so-called scratches. "When occcrring in the non-pigmented 

 «kin of the finely bred horse — it being rarely observed in the 

 ■coarser breeds — the skin is seen to be red, warm, more or less 

 •swollen and somewhat painful. Unless the irritant is removed 

 it may develop into ther following variety of dermatitis : 



3. Dermatitis eczematosa : Probably the first thing which 

 is noticed is that the horse limps a little the first few steps it 

 takes, the hairy skin rendering it difficult or impossible to 

 observe the earlier forms of this dermatitis— namely, the pap- 

 'Tilar (groups of pinhead sized pimples) and vesicular (little 

 blisters) stages— although the latter is more readily noticed 

 than the former. The next form, that of red eczema (stadium 

 Jhadidans), is the one when the surgeon is called in. Here is 



