568 DISEASES OF THE HEAD, NECK, VEINS, ETC. 



The abrasion or wound may at first be exceedingly small, a 

 mere bruise on the border of the ear ; but after a time the tip of 

 the ear commences to split, the cleavage being increased by the 

 repeated shakings of the head and violent flapping of the ears. 

 The treatment must first be directed to the prevention of this 

 shaking, and for this purpose a net-cap must be fastened around 

 the dog's head and ears. A French authority recommends the 

 application of a blister over the external surface of the ear. 

 This allays the intolerable itching, and substitutes a smart pain, 

 which prevents the shaking of the ear. This precaution against 

 further injury, with cleanliness, a purgative, regular food and 

 exercise, a gentle touch of the nitrate of silver, and, as in in- 

 ternal canker, preventing the dog from " taking the water," will 

 generally effect a cure. If the ear be split to any depth, and if, 

 after a recovery and removal of the cap, the wound again begins 

 to spread, the edges of the cleft must be pared and brought 

 together by fine — ^metallic — sutures, and at the same time all 

 diseased portions upon the tip removed with the knife. If the 

 edges do not completely unite after one operation, it must be 

 repeated until they do so ; and failing to cure by these means, 

 the dog must be *•' cropped." 



POLL-EVIL. 



This is a fistulous ulcer situated on the supero-posterior por- 

 tion of the cranium immediately behind the ears of the horse, 

 and is caused by accidental violence, or by the habitual use of 

 a tight bearing-rein. 



At the first stage it may be recognised as a soft fluctuating 

 tumour surrounded by inflammatory swelling, enlargement of 

 the superior cervical lymphatics, and stiffness of the neck ; or 

 the inflammation of the surrounding tissue may have subsided, 

 leaving a prominent swelling — a serous abscess. 



Treatment 2'^'i^o]oer hefore pus is formed. — Eeduce the inflam- 

 mation, if present, by the application of cold water to the 

 part, and by the administration of purgatives internally. When 

 the inflammation is overcome, reduce the swelling by friction 

 with iodine, hut do not puncture; but if suppuration is esta- 

 blished, the abscess cannot be opened too soon, and it is best to 

 make the incision at its base, to allow the pus to escape from 



