228 THE DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



biscuits are common causes of this affection which require 

 attention. The irritation of the skin may run so high 

 in some cases as to give rise to acute fever, which must he 

 specially dealt with. The indications for local treatment 

 are thorough and frequent cleansing of the body, and the 

 control of the inflammation by astringent dressings, as the 

 ointments of sulphate of zinc, alum, or tannic acid, according 

 to the severity of the case. In some cases the local 

 irritability may necessitate fomentations with opium infu- 

 sions. In very young animals, cod-liver oil may be 

 administered as a nutritive and the surface dressed with 

 camphor ointment. In chronic cases, whether psoriasis 

 or pityriasis be present, but little can be done likely to 

 result in permanent benefit. Any sluggish ulcers should 

 be dressed with nitrate of silver and calamine ointment 

 may be applied over the affected skin. Mercurial ointment 

 is sometimes used, but requires great caution lest it be 

 absorbed or licked in and induce mercurialism, one of the 

 symptoms of which, indeed, is a form of eczema occurring 

 chiefly on the limbs and scrotum (Gamgee). At times, 

 under climatic influences or in accordance with disorder 

 of the digestive organs, parts of the skin chronically 

 diseased become irritable in the extreme, and the animal 

 can scarcely be restrained from tearing himself in his 

 attempts to get rid of the tormenting sensation ; this 

 peueitus must be combated with opiate fomentations, and, 

 if these prove unsuccessful, with the application of external 

 stimulants, more or less powerful, according to the severity 

 of the case. The clinical features, causes, and treatment 

 of eczema rubrum, " red mange," or dermatitis have thus 

 been dealt with in emtenso because the parasitic skin 

 disorders are actually dermatites varying in special cha- 

 racters, range, and extent according to their respective 

 causes. 



Alopecia, or baldness, is natural to some breeds of dogs, 

 such as the polygar of Southern India. It results in all 

 breeds from complete or partial destruction of the hair-- 

 follicles in various forms of skin disease, as ugly patches, 

 on which the coat may again in time be made to grow 



