OTITIS, MEDIA OR INTERNA. 123 



general system, fever, hard and rapid pulse, great thirst, and entire loss 

 of appetite. 



In some cases the animal seems delirious, so maddening is the pain 

 which tortures him. Great tenderness exists on the affected side, and an 

 examination will be made with difficulty. The passage to the ear will he 

 found more or less reddened, swollen, dry, hot, and sensitive. 



These painful symptoms may last five or six days ; before the expiration 

 of this time, death may in rare instances take place from convulsions, or 

 possibly an extension of the disease to the brain. 



If the animal lives, matter forms within the middle ear, and at last the 

 membrana tympani ulcerates, or ruptures and pus streaked with blood is 

 discharged by the external ear. This discharge is odorless at first but in 

 three or four days becomes highly offensive. 



After an opening is made the more violent symptoms subside. In some 

 cases the discharge persists for a time and then disappears; the hole 

 made in the membrane closes, and a cure is affected with but little loss of 

 hearing. More commonly the small bones of the ear are discharged with 

 pieces of other bones which have necrosed or been destroyed, and a cure 

 takes place with almost a complete loss of hearing. In other cases the 

 brain may become affected by the extension of the disease and death 

 result. 



In rare instances instead of the matter discharging through the external 

 ear, it may so affect the deeper cells and structure that a swelling back of 

 the ear appears ; an abscess forms which eventually opens and thus allows 

 the pus to escape. 



During the progress of otitis the general system suffers severely, debil- 

 ity becomes marked, emaciation is progressive, the animal is slowly 

 wearing out. 



Treatment . —The intense severity of the pain demands the use of opi- 

 ates, and fifteen drops of laudanum should be given every two or three 

 hours as needed. Hot applications if they can be made to the side of the 

 head, may aid slightly in relieving the suffering. During the inflamma- 

 tory stage, the bowels should be kept open by two or three teaspoonfuls 

 of epsom salts given as needed. It is to be remembered the disease occurs 

 more often in debilitated animals, and the effort to nourish and sustain 

 should be early commenced. 



If nourishment is not taken voluntarily, the sufferer should be forced to 

 swallow concentrated beef tea, broths, milk, and raw eggs. Two grains 

 of quinine may wisely be given three times a day. After the discharge 

 appears, absolute cleanliness should be enforced. The ear should be gently 

 syringed every two or three hours, and if much odor exists, the drops 

 recommended in canker should be used after each injection. As the odor 



