226 THE DISEASES OP THE DOG. 



from an elastic network around the hair bulb to the surface 

 of the cutis, where they spread out and intermingle with 

 the fibres there (Stirling). The sebaceous glands are 

 large and well developed. The skin is specially liable to 

 disorder in the absence of strict attention to correct 

 hygiene ; dirt, deficient exercise, too high feeding, are 

 common sources of simple disorder, as well as predisposing 

 influences as regards parasitic diseases. Foulness of the 

 shin specially results from high feeding and want of 

 exercise, and the animal may smell strong and look 

 unhealthy, without any actual disorder being present. 

 This state of affairs may be corrected by thorough cleansing, 

 vegetable diet being gradually substituted for animal, and 

 liberal exercise given, otherwise it soon becomes a true 

 surfeit, or inflammatory state of the skin. 



Simple Erythema, or congestion of the skin, precedes, 

 actual dermatitis ; it is diffused or circumscribed redness 

 which especially affects those parts of the skin where the 

 sebaceous glands are well developed. It occurs in asso- 

 ciation with derangement of the alimentary canal, such as 

 may result from cutting the teeth, worms, or improper 

 diet. It must be met with salines and cathartics, and 

 generally proves of minor importance. A little desquama- 

 tion of cuticle takes place, and the affected parts resume 

 their normal condition. Some change should be made in 

 the diet in cases of erythema, and if at all irritable,, the 

 affected parts may be dressed with solution of sulphate of. 

 zinc. 



Eczema, or vesicular non-parasitic eruption on the skin,, 

 is true dermatitis or surfeit. It assumes the acute or 

 chronic form, and is one of the most frequent diseases of 

 the dog. It is distinguishable from the parasitic inflamma- 

 tions of the skin only by the use of the microscope in many 

 cases, although a fairly accurate diagnosis may be arrived 

 at by its macroscopic characters. Thus it is sudden in 

 its appearance and acute, generally associated with diges- 

 tive derangement or found in very young dogs after 

 distemper, or in bitches after pupping. It especially 

 affects sporting dogs, and follows exposure or sudden 



