CANKER, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE EAR. 329 



In amaurosis the eye looks clear, and there is no inflammation; 

 the nerve however is destroyed, and there is partial or total blin* 

 ness. It may be known by the great size of the pupiL 



CANKER, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE EAR. 



Many dogs, especially of sporting breeds, contract an inflamma- 

 tion of the membrane or skin lining of the ear, from high feeding 

 generally, and exposure to the weather. This causes irritation, 

 and tlie dog shakes his head continually. This, together with the 

 tendency to spread externally, causes an ulceration of the tips of 

 the ears of those dogs, such as the hound, pointer, setter, spaniel, 

 etc., which have these organs long and pendulous. Hence, the 

 superficial observer is apt to confine his observations to this exter- 

 nal ulceration, and I have even known the tips of the ears cut off 

 in the hope of getting rid of the mischief. This heroic treatment, 

 however, only aggravated the malady, because, while the incessant 

 shaking caused' the wound to extent, the internal inflammation 

 was not in the slightest degree relieved. The pointer is specially 

 liable to ** canker," as shown at the tips of the ears, inasmuch as 

 there is little hair to break the acuteness of the "smack" which is 

 given in the shake of the head. Long-haired dogs, on the other 

 hand, are quite as liable to the real disease, as shown by an exami- 

 nation of the internal surface, owing hoAvever to the protection 

 affbrded by the hair, the pendulous ear is less ulcerated or in- 

 flamed. Whenever, therefore, a dog is seen to continually shake 

 his head, and ineflectually endeavor to rub or scratch his ear, not 

 being able to succeed, because he cannot reach the interior, an ex- 

 amination should at once be made of the passage leading into the 

 head. If the lining be red and inflamed, there is clenr evidence of 

 the disease, even though the external ear be altogether free from 

 it. On the other hand, the mere existence of an ulceration on the 

 tips of the ears is no absolute proof of " canker," inasmuch as it 

 may have been caused by the briars and thorns which a spaniel or 



