CHAPTER VII. 
DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 
Inflammation of the skin. — The skin in common with other 
structures is liable to become congested and inflamed. This may 
merely be superficial affecting the surface of the skin called abrasion^ 
or deep affecting the deeper layers, or subjacent tissues as abscess, 
and both will necessarily vary in extent. 
Abrasions or Galls 
Consist of local breaches of the surface due to friction. 
Causes. — Most commonly seen as a result of the chafing of ill- 
fitting gear, gear ropes and chains, or of fettering or tethering 
chains, or dirt. 
Severe galls may be met with on the legs especially amongst 
recently captured animals. The raw hide thongs by which the legs 
are tied together are often drawn too tight, the parts swell and the 
thongs cut deep into the flesh. These animals in trying to get free 
strain and twist themselves about to such an extent as to cause 
nasty cuts with ropes and chains. Animals in imisth are for the 
same reason liable to similar injuries. They are sometimes due to 
carelessness, such as the habit of carrying lengths of chain in the 
opening of the guddee along the spine, or yards of chain are coiled 
round a leg and the elephant set free to graze ; if not removed 
regularly, or changed occasionally to another limb, dirt or sand 
work in, cause friction and soreness of the skin, which if not 
attended to may lead to nasty sores. 
The irritation which has been sufficient to produce an abrasion is 
often sufficient to produce engorgement of the deeper lying parts, 
which will be found swollen, hot and tender. This condition is 
seen usually on the back and is the result of a badly adjusted or 
heavy load. 
The abraded surface is frequently very much smaller than the 
underlying swelling of the tissues. If this is not immediately attended 
to, the animal entirely rested, and the abrasion carefully dressed, 
there is every likelihood of the swelling increasing and becoming an 
abscess, or the abraded surface which really represents superficial 
