COMMON AILMENTS 93 



substance getting into the ear. There are two 

 forms the external and the internal. The ex- 

 ternal shows itself by sores on the ear flaps, which 

 are most painful and cause the dog to scratch and 

 paw at his ear. The sores ought to be cleaned 

 thoroughly with hot water and dressed with zinc 

 ointment daily. In bad cases the head may be 

 bandaged to prevent aggravation of the ulcers by 

 scratching. 



The internal form is harder to cure. Its symp- 

 toms are hot, inflamed ears, pain, pawing, and 

 rubbing the head against the floor or walls. The 

 interior of the ear should be douched out with 

 warm water and boracic acid or witch hazel, and 

 then syringed with a solution of one part of spir- 

 its of wine and twenty parts of water. Afterwards 

 the ear should be carefully dried out with cotton 

 on the end of a pencil care must be taken not 

 to injure the interior of the ear and finally 

 dusted with boracic acid. 



Chorea, or, as it is sometimes called, St. Vitus's 

 Dance, is generally a legacy of distemper. It is 

 a peculiar nervous twitching, generally affecting 

 the forelegs and shoulders. It is almost incur- 

 able, but good food, exercise, and a tonic may 

 work wonders. 



Cramps in the hindquarters may sometimes at- 

 tack a dog who goes a great deal into the water 



