514 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



else than a papulous eruption at the beginning, which later becomes 

 pustulous, and generally remains localized on the extremities ; it 

 would be produced by the ingestion of stalks and grape-vine leaves 

 (see Indications of French Veterinarians in Hering^s Pathology, 

 1858). The influence of alimentation is of chief importance in 

 the variety which is designated "malt eczema with which stalk- 

 disease has certainly a marked relationship. Compared with malt- 

 disease, all the other forms of eczematous process in the ox lose 

 their importance. Concerning their clinical characters and their 

 treatment, we would refer to what has been said relative to eczema 

 of the horse. We must, however, add that in animals of the 

 bovine species especially, causes which are entirely unlike may 

 determine cutaneous diseases similar in their objective characters. 



ECZEMA PRODUCED BY MALT (fOOT RASH OR THRUSH). 



Opinions which have been advanced up to the present time on 

 the nature and essential character of this form of eczema are far 

 from agreeing with each other. Under this name have evidently 

 been confounded dermatoses which are very different in etiology 

 and symptoms. It is sufficient to consult the bibliography of this 

 subject to become convinced that eczema produced by the ingestion 

 of malt (r eruption de marc; Traberaussohlag — grains or swill of 

 breweries) or the refuse or residues from grapes, has been con- 

 founded with mange of the pastern, and especially with grease 

 [eaux aux jambes crevassées). This latter disease, the existence 

 of which has been doubted by many observers, is sometimes very 

 difficult to distinguish clinically from malt exanthema, but the 

 causes of these two morbid states are radically different. While 

 grease is, as in the horse, the result of external influences, and 

 principally from lack of cleanliness, of neglected hygiene of the 

 skin, dampness, cold, etc., the disease which we are about to study 

 is exclusively due to ingestion of potato residues. These two dis- 

 eases are therefore very distinct eczematous forms. 



From this confusion in terminology, opinions which are alto- 

 gether divergent have originated as to the nature of malt eczema. 

 The various hypotheses will be discussed farther on. We shall 



by a dermatosis which showed all the characters of stalk-disease, Railliet and Moreau 

 have found a large number of harvest-ticks (Leptus autumnalis) or Trombidion larva, 

 which they are disposed to consider as the agents of this disease. They propose to 

 give this trouble the name of Trombidian acariasis. 



