There are many forms of skin diseases, some of which are infectious, others not infectious.

Among the latter is simple eczema, which is usually caused by feeding cereals with little or no meat, producing poverty of blood. Eczema often appears on cats in the spring and also in autumn after the hot weather.

The symptons are constant licking and scratching until the skin becomes raw and the hair falls out in patches; this can only be cured by dieting and giving medicine internally.

Feed only minced raw beef mixed with as much phosphate of soda as will lie on a ten cent piece, twice a day, until the irritation subsides. Give no cereals or milk, as these are heating to the blood, but continue the raw meat or other meat diet, giving the soda should the irritation recur at any future date.

Whole catteries will be affected by this simple eczema, causing people to think it is contagious, but this is not the case, the outbreak being caused either through months of improper feeding or climatic conditions.

Perhaps the most troublesome disease to get amongst your cats is Black Mange; this is a parasite under the skin. The disease appears in different-sized patches, and starts on the head, around the ears, and on the front paws. The first sign is a roughness of the skin in patches, which when combed comes off, hair and all, with a yellow crust, leaving the skin grey or nearly black.

This complaint attacks kittens more frequently than adults, but more especially cats which have always been fed on cereals. I have known cases where cats had to be destroyed when this disease has appeared, simply because they are in a low state of health from poor feeding. This disease does not appear on a really healthy cat so seriously as to endanger its life, but it is a troublesome complaint to get rid of, as should there be one spot left on a cat it will increase again and attack any kittens that may arrive later. On the first appearance of this disease a close examination of all the inmates of the cattery should take place, then great care should be taken when dressing the spots, that infection does not spread. First examine the cat's head, neck, and around the casing of the claws on the front feet. Should there be any roughness, the hair should be removed (it will come out quite easily), and dropped into a tin of hot water or kerosene, then the spot should be well dressed with equal parts of sulphurous acid and glycerine, being sure the acid is of full strength; rub or dab well into the spot, with the end of a tooth brush, from which all the bristles, except those at the end, have been removed with a sharp knife; use a little of the lotion at a time from an egg cup or other small receptacle. When the affection is around the nose and eyes, it is very difficult to dress, and very unpleasant for the poor cat. Great care must be taken not to get the lotion into the eyes - it is not harmful, though very painful.

The cat should be examined all over the body; the rough places can be felt under the hair, and, on a well cared-for cat the spots are few and far between, although they may appear on any part of the head, body or tail.

The lotion should be used twice a day to effect a speedy cure, and the spots must be dressed until they are quite smooth and the hair begins to grow; the skin will often remain dark-coloured for months or even years afterwards.

This disease must be carefully treated, or it will remain in a cattery for a year or more; any cat which is about to kitten must be thoroughly cured, or the spots will appear on the young kittens when they are about ten days old; then the same treatment must commence all over again, only that you may have five to treat instead of one.

In addition to the outward treatment, great care should be taken as to feeding, which must consist entirely of meat, such as lean raw beef, lamb, raw chicken, rabbits, etc. No cereals or milk should be given. The sulphurous acid must be pure, and of full strength, the fumes should be overpowering or the acid will be of little use.

Great precaution must be taken to see that Sulphurous acid is procured and not Sulphuric, as the latter will burn holes in the cat's flesh.

Sulphurous acid may be applied, three parts acid to one of glycerine in obstinate cases, and may be used for any other skin trouble of similar appearance.

Cats are not often subject to skin trouble, and I have never found it infectious to human beings.