362 INFLAMMATION OF THE EXTERNAL EAR. 



of the meatus and the use of mild astringents or antiseptics. 

 The meatus should be washed out with soap and water, then care- 

 fully dried with small pledgets of absorbent cotton, and douched 

 with an evaporating antiseptic lotion (iodine, iodoform, or copper 

 sulphate in ether or rectified spirit). Excoriations may be painted 

 with a 2 per cent, solution of nitrate of silver. Where pain is 

 excessive, a 1 per cent, solution of cocaine in glycerine, or warm oil 

 of henbane dropped into the ear often gives relief. The evaporating 

 lotion must be repeated at least once a day until the discharge has 

 completely disappeared. 



In chronic otorrhcea the first requisite is careful cleansing of the 

 meatus with warm water and soap powder, followed by careful drying, 

 and douching with a 5 per cent, lotion of equal parts of tannic and 

 salicylic acids in spirit. Alcohol alone is of service, and 3 per cent, 

 solution of resorcin in spirit can be strongly recommended. Butel com- 

 mends a 6 per cent, solution of boric acid in alcohol. This treatment 

 must be repeated daily, and when the disease has been neglected, and 

 to prevent its return, must be continued for some weeks. No fluid 

 must be left in the ears. If great pain be present, solution of cocaine, 

 or henbane oil is useful. Bayer, after cleansing, powdered the meatus 

 with boric acid. Resorcin, iodoform, and other materials have 

 been recommended, but less depends on the agents used than 

 on their careful application. Nocard recommended an ointment 

 consisting of 10 parts of salicylic acid, 100 parts of vaseline, with 

 a little tincture of benzoin. A piece the size of a hazel-nut is 

 placed in the ear. Exuberant granulations are removed with a 

 curette, or by applying a dry astringent. 



Inflammation of the middle ear — that is, of the tympanum— is 

 termed otitis media ; that of the labyrinth, otitis interna ; but 

 neither is usually recognised during life. They occur from the spread 

 of inflammation from the external meatus, the entrance of foreign 

 bodies, or infection through the Eustachian tube. Attacks of delirium 

 have been observed by Stadler and Schumacher in cattle, pro- 

 duced by acari in the middle ear (dermanyssus avium). Schutz 

 and Siedamgrotzky detected tuberculosis of the middle ear in pigs. 

 In rabbits, formation of pus in the middle ear has produced 

 epileptiform attacks, and parasites have also been found in the 

 meatus and middle ear, causing cerebral symptoms. The animals 

 sometimes made rotary, sometimes rolling movements. Manege 

 movements have been seen in tuberculosis of the middle ear in pigs. 



Tumours are commonest in dogs, and are chiefly represented by 

 papillomata and fibromata ; the former not infrequently follow otitis 



