SYMBIOTIC ACARIASIS AND ECZEMA OF THE EAR. 3x3 



some nervous affection. In addition to restlessness, loss of appetite, 

 and depression, it showed at varying intervals paroxysms of trembling 

 and slight rigidity of the body muscles. 



These symptoms gradually became more marked. One morning 

 the .patient was seen to turn in circles to the right, the head inclined 

 towards the same side and slightly depressed. 



A specialist who was consulted regarded the symptoms as due to a 

 brain lesion. He prescribed friction with antimonial ointment over 

 the upper part of the neck and base of the brain. This treatment 

 giving no result he passed a seton behind the head. In spite of the 

 suppuration produced by leaving the seton in position for a month the 

 disturbance persisted. 



Towards the end of August the animal one evening had an 

 epileptiform attack, the head being markedly turned towards the 

 right, and the animal falling on the same side. 



Three weeks before entering hospital it had another more violent 

 attack, and again fell on the right side. Bromide of potassium was 

 prescribed. On the 29th December a further epileptiform attack 

 occurred similar to the preceding. On the evening of the next day 

 the bitch was sent to the School. 



State on Examination. — The patient held the head inclined towards 

 the right side, was depressed, and took no notice of what passed around 

 it. Although it had suffered from these attacks for several months it 

 was still in fairly good condition. There was no rigidity of muscle and 

 no interference with movement. At times the animal shook its ears 

 and scratched them with the hind limbs. It had scarcely been placed 

 in a kennel before it was taken with a fit. It fell forwards, the head 

 being turned towards the right side, its long axis inclined downwards 

 and towards the left, the right temporo-auricular region resting on the 

 straw ; howled loudly, and made convulsive circular movements from 

 left to right around the head, which acted as a pivot. This attack 

 lasted for three minutes. The animal rose, remained stupid for a few 

 moments, and then resumed its former appearance. 



During the night it ate some fragments of meat given by hand. 

 Five minutes later it was seized with nausea and vomiting attacks. 



At next day's visit I made inquiries as to the animal's history. 

 Examining the interior of the ears I noted at the entrance to the 

 auditory meatus an abundant deposit of brownish wax, which I directed 

 to be microscopically examined, with the result that it was found to 

 contain numerous symbiotes (Symbiotes ecaudatus, var. canis). 



Treatment. — Washing out of the ears with soap, cleansing of the 

 external meatus, drying with wadding, injection of i per cent, solution 

 of sulphide of potash, and light friction around the base of the ear, so 

 as to favour the penetration of the liquid, drying of the entrance to the 

 meatus and application of a few drops of balsam of Peru. The injection 

 of sulphide of potash solution and the after application of Peruvian 

 balsam were repeated every day until the 15th January. 



On the 6th the patient was less depressed ; it took a little nourish- 

 ment. The inner surface of the fore-limbs showed an eczematous 

 eruption, accompanied by severe itching. After clipping away the hair 



