TREATMENT OF COMMON AILMENTS 323 



frequently carrying it sideways as if in a good deal 

 of discomfort. There is a nasty discharge, and the 

 orifice is inflamed. It is important to check it or 

 it may extend inwards, causing serious trouble. 

 Wash out the ear thoroughly with a little mild dis- 

 infectant and warm water, dry well with cotton-wool, 

 and then blow in twice a day boracic powder, making 

 certain that it gets well in the orifice. Another 

 form of canker is caused by minute parasites which 

 infest the flap of the ear, and may be seen as small 

 white points. Syringe the inner part of the ear 

 with a good disinfectant, and dress with an ointment 

 of sulphur and vaseline. 



ECZEMA. Eczema is very prevalent among 

 highly-bred dogs, more often than not, I think, being 

 inherited. Injudicious feeding may be responsible, 

 as well as worms. The dog, being a carnivorous 

 animal, needs a certain quantity of meat, and a 

 neglect of this fact will lead to impoverishment of 

 the blood. Excess of food, too, may be just as mis- 

 chievous in the other direction. Eczema may appear 

 in small patches, or a considerable surface of the 

 body may be affected. In puppies the legs and 

 thighs are often attacked. Where it is localised 

 the disease can usually be checked comfortably, and 

 we need not be alarmed if the dog bites himself into 

 raw places. An ointment made of vaseline and 

 powdered sulphur is often sufficient to cure, or any 

 cooling lotion may be applied, such as a solution 

 of carbolic or Goulard's extract of lead. In more 

 severe cases it is a good plan to give the animal a 

 bath in a mild disinfectant, and then to dress 

 thoroughly with the following mixture : Linseed-oil, 

 I pint' r ; oil of tar, 2 oz. ; cocoamit-oil, \ pint ; 



