Eruption in bends of carpus and tarsus and downward: Causes: lymphatic temperament, constitutional predisposition, deranged internal organs, excessive secretions, modified, congested skin, friction between dermal folds. Symptoms: stiffness, heat, thickening and redness, vesicles or oozing, crusts, erect hairs, shedding hair, squamæ, cracks, abrasions, fissures, subcutaneous engorgement, lymphangiectasis. Treatment: Cleanse, get pure air, regular exercise, non-stimulating food, avoid cold water, mud, slush, caustic soap, lime, sharp sand, foul organic matter. Massage. Light bandages. Bland ointments. Dusting powders. Rest. Iodoform. Starch. Zinc oxide. Boric acid. Magnesia. Bismuth. Lycopodion. Lead. Tannin. Pyoktannin. Stimulating ointments. Green soap. Arsenic.

The bends of the carpus and tarsus in heavy, lymphatic, coarse skinned horses are especially subject to eczema followed by a dense scabby eruption, which in the old farrier’s nomenclature was known as malanders in the fore limb and sallenders in the hind. It is not always confined to the joints but may extend down the limb, especially on the back, where the hair is coarser and the skin thicker, as far as the fetlock or even to the hoof.

In the matter of causation much depends on the general constitutional state which tends to eczema, and on the torpor or derangement of some of the internal organs the functions of which are interdependent with those of the skin. Something too must be attributed to the freer secretions of these parts in coarse bred horses, to the accumulation of such secretions and of extraneous irritants under the long hair, to the sluggishness of the circulation in the limbs which has to overcome the force of gravitation, and to friction between the thick folds of skin in flexion, and stretching in extension. Swelling of the lower limbs is at once a cause and an effect of the disease.

Symptoms. At the outset the animal may be seen to move rather stiffly, and the skin is found to be hot, thickened and if white reddened. Soon a close observation may detect the eruption of vesicles, or simply an oozing of a yellowish or bloody serum which concretes around the hairs forming an encrusted covering for the part, holding the hairs erect and bristly, and even lifting them out of their follicles. Cracks also appear in the depth of the fold, leading to a more abundant exudate, and the disease may extend around the whole surface of the limb.

In the more acute cases this may be followed by more or less depilation, dessication and recovery, but too often the condition becomes chronic, the thickened, encrusted or squamous skin continues to exude, crack and cover itself with crusts, under which the decomposing liquids macerate and irritate the exposed cuticle, and engorgment of the whole limb with hyperplasia of the connective tissue and lymphatic plexus and vessels is the result. This hyperplasia of the skin and connective tissue (elephantiasis) is also a common result of lymphangitis.

Treatment. As in other skin affections attention must first be given to removal of the causes. Ensure cleanliness, pure air, regular exercise, non-stimulating food, the avoidance of cold water, melting snow, soapy washes and all other sources of irritation. Deep mud, especially if charged with lime, sharp sand, decomposing organic matter or other irritant, is particularly offensive.

Hand-rubbing (massage) of the limbs and evenly applied light bandages are often of the greatest value in dispersing or obviating swelling.

The slighter attacks may be met at the outset by bland ointments or dusting powders and rest from all but necessary exercise. Dressing with iodoform may bring about a recovery in a few days. Starch and oxide of zinc, boric acid, magnesia carbonate, bismuth or lycopodion may give good service. Lotions of lead acetate, tannin, iron sulphate, alum, potassium permanganate or pyoktannin may be used as in other forms of eczema. In obstinate cases green soap followed by stimulating ointments or liniments, tar, oil of white birch, Canada balsam, turpentine and glycerine, oil of cade, etc., will often serve an excellent purpose. In these advanced cases an alterative such as arsenic may be employed.