This generally comes on a few days after the bitch has pupped. At first there will be found small lumps at the base of the teats, which are very tender; the swelling soon increases, and extends all around the teats; they then become very hot, and of a deep red color. The sucking of the pups causes so much pain that the bitch refuses to allow it. When this is the case, the inflammation soon extends over the whole udder, and if it be not arrested, suppuration takes place, and an abscess forms at the base of one or more of the teats. TREATMENT.—Give A.A., a dose of one to three drops, once in say three hours at first, then once in six hours, and bathe the teats in HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL or if cracked or very sore, apply HUMPHREYS’ VETERINARY OIL, morning and night. CHAPTER VII.—PART IV. DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND EXTREMITIES, AND MECHANICAL INJURIES Eczema—Surfeit—Blotch DEFINITION.—A non-contagious, vesicular disease of the skin, not occasioned by the presence of parasites, but dependent on constitutional predisposition. It is sometimes termed mange, but is distinguished from that disease by the absence of _acari_. Foul mange is an aggravated form of eczema. CAUSES.—Hereditary constitution; insufficient exercise; gross diet; food too spare or too full in quantity, or unwholesome in quality; close kennel; dirty bedding, too hard or too luxurious a bed, etc. Flesh food will produce it; so, also, will sleeping on barley straw. SYMPTOMS.—The disease begins with irritation of the skin, which causes the dog to be continually scratching; from inflamed patches a serous fluid exudes, which mats the hair and forms scabs; these fall off together, leaving the skin bare, inflamed, red, and discharging a thin, watery fluid. This fluid dries in thin scales, which cause considerable irritation. The scabs and scales are scratched and rubbed by the dog, and are thus aggravated till pustular and vesicular eruptions give the appearance of general ulceration. The patch usually occurs on the back, at the root of the tail, outer surface of thighs or rump. In other cases, in fat, over-fed animals, the skin is devoid of hair, is greatly thickened (especially along the back or before the tail), and is almost devoid of sensation. The dog is very foul, and smells very offensively; the skin is wrinkled, chapped, cracked, ulcerated, emitting disgusting serum or pus; thick, yellowish crusts are formed; and the dog lies dull all day long, sleeping, licking, scratching, biting its sore places, a disgusting object to look at. The disease may be confined to certain parts, when it receives the name of the part attacked. In sporting dogs there is frequently an eczematous eruption between the toes and at the roots of the nails, which causes redness, swelling and tenderness of the feet, together with lameness. Puppies almost invariably inherit the disease when it has occurred on one of the parents.