428 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



FROSTBITE. 



It is not uncommon among young cattle which are poorly nour- 

 ished and exposed outdoors to storms and extreme cold to suffer 

 frostbite of the ear, which may constitute actual freezing of the part. 



Symptoms. Frostbite presents naturally every degree of sever- 

 ity from the mere chilling of the tip of the ear to positive freezing and 

 death of a portion. In a day or two after the freezing has occurred 

 the ear will become swollen and very painful ; the dead part will re- 

 main cold and begin to shrivel ; a line of separation then forms be- 

 tween the inflamed and the dead or dying portion, and finally the 

 piece destroyed drops off, leaving a raw healing surface. When the 

 ear is only slightly affected by the cold, an excoriation or peeling off 

 of superficial skin takes place, accompanied by some pain and itching. 



Treatment. A good liniment for frozen ears will be found in a 

 mixture of turpentine, ammonia, and chloroform, of each 1 part, 

 added to 6 parts of sweet oil. Rub this on the ear several times a 

 day. It will relieve pain and stimulate the circulation, thus favoring 

 a recovery of the injured structures. 



LACERATIONS OF THE EAR. 



Aggressive dogs are the most frequent cause of lacerated ear, 

 generally leaving a torn, ragged edge and bruised cartilage. 



Treatment. If the wound is extensive a trimming of the ragged 

 edges becomes necessary; then fasten the edges together with silver 

 wire, catgut, or strong, thick, linen thread, taking a deep hold. Ap- 

 ply pine tar. 



DISEASE OF THE CARTILAGE AND NECROSIS. 



Occasionally the cartilages of the ear become affected, usually 

 the result of a deep bruise ; pus forms, which burrows under the skin, 

 and may find a discharge from any part of the ear more or less distant 

 from the seat of the disease. When the cartilage has been extensively 

 injured, pieces of it may become dead (necrosed) and dissolve, to be 

 carried away with the pus, or it may lead to extensive sloughing and 

 the formation of numerous running sores. In the disease of the car- 

 tilage there is seldom much swelling or great pain. The discharge is 

 usually very offensive, and occasionally streaked with blood. When- 

 ever there is a long-continued, persistent discharge from one or more 

 openings in the ear, disease of the cartilage may be suspected. 



Treatment. The sinus formed by the passage of matter should 

 be probed and searched to the bottom for the presence of a foreign 

 substance or the evidence of decaying cartilage. When the probe 

 touches necrosed cartilage it will feel like the presence of a piece of 

 dry leather or partially softened wood. A counter opening must then 

 be made at this place, and all diseased cartilage cut away with the 

 knife. The subsequent treatment consists in keeping the artificial 

 wound open for the discharge of pus, and the injection of chloride of 

 zinc, 5 grains to the ounce of water, once or twice a day, until the 

 wound is healed. 



ENCHONDROMA OF THE EAR. 



This is an excessive growth of cartilage, found at the base of the 

 ear in the form of a hard, painless tumor, firmly attached to the mov- 



