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Diseases of the Skin. 
EARN. 
(Continued from last Issue.) 
—_ —— 
S. 8. CAMERON, M.R.C.V\S.. Chief 
Veterinary Officer, Melbourne, in the 
Victorian “ Journal of Agriculture.” 
NON-PARASTIC SKIN DISEASES. 
Hezema. 
Excepting the conditions specially 
dealt with in this chapter all skin 
affections of an inflammatory or irritative 
character may for practical purposes be 
classed as eczemas. They are known 
under different common names such as 
pri¢kly heat, summer mange, blood boils, 
heat pimples, dandruff, and they may be 
scientifically divided into ‘lichen simplex,’ 
-the diffuse form of eczema when the 
pimples are scattered ; ‘ herpes’ when the 
pimples appear in patches; ‘ strophulus’ 
when the hair is shed and bare pvtches of 
skin lefc; ‘ psoriasis’ and ‘pityriasis’ when 
he disease assumes a chronic scaly 
condition. 
In Simple Eczema there is an eruption 
of small pea-like pimples on the surface 
of the skin at’ any part but most com- 
monly on the sides of the neck or 
shoulders, the flank and inside the 
thighs, and at the root of the tail. At 
first they are simply small hardish 
elevations but soon they become filled 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
with a watery fluid (serum) and form 
‘vesicles.’ These may either dry up or 
burst leaving a scaly scab which peels off 
in a few days. Sometimes the vesicles 
become transformed into pustules con- 
_ taining matter (pus) and ill-looking sores 
are formed while healing. 
Causes —‘The disease appears to be 
brought on by some influence which 
interferes with healthy action of the skin 
such as checked perspiration, errors in 
feeding, irritation from wearing woollen 
or dirty clothing or from dirt being 
allowed to accumulate on the skin, want 
of grooming, a heated state of the 
system, or by infection. In some cases 
its cause appears to be constitutional, .in 
others local.’ (Hayes.) The affection is 
common at the change of the seasons, 
spring generally, and some horses suffer 
year after year about the same season, 
Treatment.—Horses on hard feed 
should be changed to laxative diet con- 
sisting of grass or other green feed and a 
daily bran mash with which from two to 
four ounces of Epsom salts may be 
mixed- As a local application a little 
glycerine may be applied or the olive oil 
and soda emulsion previously recom- 
mended for ‘chafes.. When pustular 
sores form, Tincture of Creolin (creolin 1 
part, methylated spirits 15 parts) forms 
an effective dressing and it also has a 
marked effect in stimulating the growth 
of hair. In obstinate cases arsenic in 
the form of Fowler’s solution may be 
given as a skin tonic and alterative 
powders containing an ounce of Epsom 
salts and half an ounce of sulphur are 
also advantageous. 
For eczema in the dog (in which 
animal the disease may vary from a 
slight vesicular irritation to a condition 
of extensive suppuration or great 
thickening and encrustation of the skin) 
December 1, 1908 
internal treatment with Fowler’s solu- 
tion of arsenic (5 to 10 drops per day in. 
the drinking water) should be accom- 
panied by the application of zinc oint- 
ment in early cases or [odide of Sulphur 
ointment in confirmed and intractable 
cases. 
Sealy Eczema (psoriasis and pityriasis) 
is a chronic condition of the skin charac- 
terized by the formation and continuous . 
peeling of dry bran-like scales. The- 
affection is mostly localized at the base 
of the mane, root of the tail and about 
the neck, shoulders and croup. 
Treatment.—Local applications de not 
appear to do much good, The disease. 
must be attacked through the system and 
after a cleansing of the bowels by a pur- 
gative or laxative medicine a course of - 
tonics (arsenic and sulphur alternated) 
is the best possible treatment. 
Care 
should -be taken in 
grooming not to. 
irritate the skin, and only the softest. 
brushes and cloths should be used, 
Rain Rot in Sheep. 
This is an eczematous condition of the. 
skin of sheep occurring in poorly fed 
animals with sparse wool, The surface. 
skin of the neck, shoulders, back and tail 
becomes softened by rain or dampness, 
A thickening of the skin follows and may - 
be accompanied by the formation of 
vesicles and scabs. he wool is likely to . 
all off and there is great itchiness. 
Treatment.—In mild cases the affection. 
disappears as soon as the rainy season is 
over. If this does not happen the parts. 
should be dressed with 
Tincture of 
Creolin or 
the ointments 
eczema in the. 
one of 
recommended for 
dog, 
(To be Continued,) 
a 
Any farm which will grow clover will- 
produce pigs at a profit. 
