Manual of Veterinary Homeopathy

CHAPTER I.. Diseases of the Skin and Subjacent Tissue

DISEASES OF THE SKIN and SUBJACENT TISSUE

Abscess—Ulcers—Fistulas

An abscess is a collection of matter. Any tumor softening, or in other words coming to a head, forms an abscess. They are usually the result of injuries, such as a blow or contusion, or may be occasioned by a thorn, nail or splinter entering the flesh. In the more severe cases these act in connection with a constitutional predisposition or peculiar state of the blood.

SYMPTOMS.—A hot and painful swelling; in the earlier stage, hard, and by degrees softening or fluctuating in the center, and gradually approaching the surface, attended with more or less heat and fever, according to its situation and nature.

Abscesses which penetrate deeply along the sheaths of muscles and tendons, or even to the bones are termed FISTULAS. Shallow abscesses are known as ulcers, and these may be mild, readily healing, and secreting a healthy, thick, cream-like pus; or ill-conditioned, unhealthy, secreting a thin sanious discolored matter, and healing with great difficulty. Such are the general characteristics of all abscesses, wherever located, and their situation and extent mark their relative importance and danger.

TREATMENT.—During the inflammatory stage or before softening, while there is merely a hard, more or less hot and painful tumor, we should endeavor to disperse it without its softening. To this end, give three times per day, ten drops of A.A., and also bathe the tumor as often with HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL which will frequently disperse it.

But if the swelling increases and fluctuates, or a yellowish spot is observed in its center, denoting the presence of matter, it should be lanced at once, in the most depending portion, and the matter drawn off, and fifteen drops of the I.I., should be given morning and night to facilitate the healing. Apply the VETERINARY OIL to the cut or open sore with end of the finger, three times per day, to facilitate the healing.

For ULCERS or SORES, apply the VETERINARY OIL, as above.

In fistulas where the canal is long and crooked, or runs into cavities of pus, it may be laid open with the knife, so as to heal from the bottom, or better, the VETERINARY OIL may be injected daily, with a small syringe, or the OIL may be inclosed in a gelatine capsule and gently pressed down into the bottom of the cavity, after having pressed out the accumulated matter. The use of the capsule (which may be had for a trifle at the druggists, or from this Company), is the safest and most convenient.

Abscess of the Poll, Poll Evil

Is often from neglect a very formidable disease. It is generally the result of severe injury upon the top of the head, such as the chafing of the bridle or halter, pressure, or a blow against the manger or stall, or frequent hanging back against the headstall.

SYMPTOMS.—At first a tumor forms at the polls or junction of the head and neck. It soon becomes hot, tense and painful; the horse carries his head low; looks to one side; eats but little from the pain of chewing, especially if the food is hard. If the tumor is not dispersed, it comes to a head, either discharges externally, or the matter failing to come to the surface, sinks downward, burrowing along beneath the surface among tendons, ligaments and bones, forming deep and obstinate fistulous ulcers.

TREATMENT.—Before the tumor has softened, give the A.A., fifteen drops three times per day, keep the horse on low diet, and bathe the swelling frequently with HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL. This course will usually disperse the swelling or should it fail to do so will limit it to the smallest possible extent.

If the tumor has come to a head, is soft or fluctuating, lance it at once, evacuate the contents, and give fifteen drops of the I.I., morning and night, apply HUMPHREYS’ VETERINARY OIL three times per day to the sore. For old neglected cases apply the VETERINARY OIL, and give I.I., daily.

Fistula of the Withers—Sweeny

This disease very much resembles Poll Evil in the textures involved and the difficulty in curing it. It begins with an inflammation of the connecting tissues of the spinous processes of the dorsal vertebræ and the ultimate formation of an abscess. Being confined by the fascia or ligamentous structures, the matter cannot find its way to the surface, but forms sinuses or pipes, and by the force of gravity, burrows down among the muscles which connect the shoulder with the trunk. Sometimes it consists of a cyst filled with a serum, and then is easy to cure. As the muscles of the withers are connected with all the movements of the neck as well as the back and legs, the disease rapidly increases, and the inflammation extends; the shoulder becomes lower, the ligaments, cartilage, and spinous process are involved, and extensive mischief ensues.

CAUSE.—A badly fitting saddle, and most commonly a side-saddle, which, pressing on the spinous processes of the vertebræ, produces first soreness and subsequent inflammation.

SYMPTOMS.—Swelling and tenderness either on the top of the withers or a little on one side of the spinal process at that point; and in a short time fluctuation under the finger. Should the skin have been much bruised, a circular portion sloughs out and leaves an unhealthy looking sore, from which there is a discharge, and on further examination with a probe we find a cyst from which there is only one outlet, or we find fistulous ducts (“pipes,” in farriers’ language) leading in various directions. In many more advanced cases we only discover a hard tumor on the withers, which will neither suppurate nor disappear by resolution, and to which, although coming under the head of Fistulous Withers, the term is evidently inappropriately applied.

TREATMENT.—First remove the cause by taking off and quite altering the bearing of the saddle. If the swelling is recent and does not fluctuate, thoroughly rub in the VETERINARY OIL, repeating the operation every day, giving a dose of B.B. also morning and night. If a cyst exists and fluctuation is perceptible, it must be opened at the most dependent portion, and the matter drawn off, and the part rubbed with the VETERINARY OIL, and a portion of it injected into the sack or opening every day. If long pipes or sinuses exist, they must also be opened and the VETERINARY OIL injected. Give also, morning and night, I.I. daily.

Dropsy

While dropsy is not a common disease in the horse it is sometimes met with; particularly in horses which are fed on the refuse from sugar factories and distilleries.

It may be caused from improper feeding, or may be only a symptom of some other disease, particularly diseases of the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.

Dropsy is a morbid accumulation of watery fluid confined to certain parts of the body. The disease is divided into varieties corresponding to the respective localization of the accumulated water, as for instance, anasarca (water in the skin); ascites (water in the abdomen); hydrothorax (water in the chest).

SYMPTOMS.—In the first form (anasarca) it is first noticed on the lower parts of the body, as the legs, under surface of the chest, etc. The skin is swollen and doughy to the touch and retains the impression of the fingers; but is neither painful nor of abnormally high temperature.

In ascites there is a gradual enlargement of the abdomen and when pressed upon, the fluid can be felt to flow from side to side and the part with the water gives a dull sound on being struck. Breathing is quicker and impeded and the appetite diminished, but there is no fever.

In hydrothorax the symptoms are much the same except that it takes place in the region of the chest instead of the abdomen.

TREATMENT.—It will generally be relieved by giving the H.H., in doses of fifteen drops three times per day for trifling cases, or ten drops every three hours for the more severe ones. After a free discharge of urine is established, giving the medicine three times per day will be sufficient.

Eczema

(See also Mange page 23)

In the horse, eczema represents practically all forms of skin disease except the parasitic and is seen in the following forms and regions.

1—A form seen in hot weather and variously known as herpes, lichen, summer or saddle mange, and heat pimples. This occurs under the harness where sweating is most profuse, at first as scabby pimples, after which the hair sticks together and falls, leaving scaly bare patches.

2—Then there is a form of scaly eczema which attacks the head, neck, shoulders, elbows, etc. This is a chronic form, with the production of branny scales with thickening of the skin accompanied by itching.

3—A pustular form which attacks chiefly the skin under the mane and tail. The skin is raw and weeping, while the hair mats together in masses and falls and there is a tendency to the chronic scaly form.

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