ECZEMA. 
205 
Urticaria. 
Nettle-rash or surfeit may occasionally be met with. It 
consists of an eruption on the skin, which is usually very sudden in 
its appearance. The rash may be general or appear only in 
patches. 
Causes, — The more frequent causes are errors in diet, such 
as sudden changes of food, from poor to luxuriant pasture, allowing 
animals to drink freely when the body is heated. A high surround- 
ing temperature. Rapid cooling of the skin when the body is 
overheated. In some animals irritation from insect bites. Well 
cared for and young animals are very liable to it. 
Symptoms. — As a rule there is little or no constitutional disturb- 
ance to speak of. The rash appears as elastic lumps of varying 
size, sometimes being as large as walnuts, and is usually seen about 
the neck, shoulders and sides of abdomen. The eruption generally 
vanishes in a day or two and as suddenly as it appears. Fresh 
attacks may occur from time to time. 
Treatment. — Care and attention to watering, feeding and 
exercise. A dose of physic is usually sufficient to disperse the rash. 
If the patient is weak, a course of iron tonics generally proves 
beneficial (see Formulae 41 and 42) ; bicarbonate of soda in \-oz. 
doses twice daily very often yields good results. 
Eczema. 
Generally speaking skin diseases do not appear to be as 
frequent or as difficult to treat as is the case with other domestic 
animals. This may perhaps be due to the fact that elephants are 
naturally very fond of bathing and in captivity are usually well 
washed and groomed daily. 
Eczema though not a common ailment may occasionally be met 
with. 
Generalized eczema appears to be rare. 
Causes. — Usually due to some irritation. It is more common 
among animals subjected to treatment opposed to their natural 
habits, such as keeping them tethered in the sun, want of cleanli- 
ness as regards bathing, and care of gear, lice, repeated friction due 
to continued pressure. Defective nutrition of the skin, general debi- 
lity, digestive troubles, in fact any conditions likely to bring about 
an unhealthy state of the skin may act as predisposing causes. It 
is sometimes called mange ; this is incorrect. It differs from that 
disease in that it does not depend on the presence of a parasite, 
