643 
MUD-FEVER—CRACKED HEELS—GREASE. 
had even noticed it, for he writes —“ equus, qui hieme laborat, eundo per 
lutum, in aestate per pulverem.” The action is chemical, as shown bv 
the fact that disease is favoured by washing the legs, the best preventive 
being simply to cleanse the parts with a dry cloth. 
Observations made on men, dogs, and other animals, seem, how¬ 
ever, to favour the belief that eczematous disease may be associated 
with constitutional changes, which are at present very imperfectly 
understood. 
Course. Early and appropriate treatment generally results in com¬ 
plete cure in eight to fourteen days. When, however, the disease is 
neglected, recovery is impeded by the formation of fissures and of new 
connective tissue, which latter sometimes produces prominent thick 
swellings in the pastern-joint. Though simple cracks soon heal with 
rest and proper treatment, large masses of new tissue are very often 
difficult to deal with, especially if adherent to the subjacent flexor tendons 
and sheaths. Before giving an opinion, the parts should therefore be 
thoroughly examined. 
The treatment of eczematous dermatitis requires in the first place rest, 
because movement keeps up inflammation and favours the formation of 
fissures and of excessive quantities of cicatricial tissue. The skin should 
be carefully cleansed with warm water and a neutral soap, the swellings 
rinsed with creolin solution, dried, and dressed with iodoform and tannin 
(1—3). After the preliminary washing and disinfection, it is very 
important to avoid again wetting the parts. This is one of the chief 
seciets in the successful treatment of these forms of dermatitis. Astrin¬ 
gent dusting powders or ointments are generally useful. Pyoktanin has 
been highly recommended, but its powerful staining properties render it 
unpopular. Thioform, dermatol, glutol, and amyloform (all compounds 
of foimic acid with neutral bases) are easy to use and efficacious. An 
ointment of red oxide of mercury one part, with paraffin base or lanolin 
five parts, is useful. It may be smeared on wadding, laid on the surface 
of the wound, and fixed in position by a bandage. The dressing keeps 
out the air, and may be left in position until wet through, when the 
diseased spot is again cleansed and the dressing renewed. 
Recovery generally follows in about eight days. Even deep fissures 
are soon cured by complete rest, and the use of dry dressings or of the 
ointment and a cotton-wool dressing. 
To check excessive proliferation (“ proud flesh ”) and cicatrisation, 
astiingents like alum or sulphate of zinc may first be tried ; and in the 
event of their proving unsuccessful, caustics, nitrate of silver and 
sulphate of copper, are often of service. Mineral acids must be applied 
with caution, to avoid excessive destruction of tissue and risk of opening 
tendon sheaths. 
