252 DISEASES OF THE' SKIN 



an erythema, the skin being highly reddened, swollen, and 

 painful, especially about the hind fetlocks. The- patient is 

 usually lame. Later there appear vesicles which soon rup- 

 ture, leaving moist areas which in turn dry, forming crusts. 

 Usually the eczema tends to spread on the limb to the height 

 of the carpus or tarsus. The patients generally show symp- 

 toms of loss of appetite, diarrhea, fever, and emaciation. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis is usually good, healing occurring 

 in about three weeks. A seborrheic eczema occasionally is 

 seen in cattle. It is usually diffuse and eventually leads to 

 complete loss of hair. Dampness is a common cause of 

 eczema in sheep which have been exposed to continuous 

 rainfall which keeps the wool soaked. The eczema is usually 

 found along the back and croup. This form of eczema is 

 sometimes called "rain rot." The skin becomes swollen and 

 creviced, and is quite itchy. The areas involved are covered 

 with crusts which when lifted expose moist reddened surfaces. 

 The wool becomes tufted and falls out. Provided the sheep 

 are not removed to shelter, they become anemic and emaci- 

 ated. When the weather gets dry, usually the eczema sub- 

 sides. 



Swine. — A non-parasitic eczema is rare in swine. In young, 

 unthrifty pigs a squamous eczema occurs with brown or black 

 crusts, hence the name "soot of young pigs." This form of 

 eczema is usually seen in pigs which are kept in unsanitary 

 quarters and are generally neglected. It appears particularly 

 on the inner surface of the thighs along the abdomen, sides of 

 the chest, and inner surface of the fore limbs. More rarely 

 it affects the head. The affected skin is erythematous and 

 soon becomes covered with vesicles filled with a clear, sticky 

 fluid. Pustules soon form, break, dry, and form crusts which 

 from the admixture of dirt have a black appearance. Asso- 

 ciated .with hog cholera, eczema or more properly an exan-" 

 thema occurs. 



Treatment. — The treatment of eczema is mainly external. 

 In all cases the cause should be removed. This in itself often 

 suffices. Before treatment is applied the affected skin should 

 be prepared by removing the hair and the accumulations of 

 exudate. For the latter, bathing the skin in tepid soft water 



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