DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND EARS. 243 



the head, especially from blows inflicted upon the latter at 

 the origin of the ear. Some persons are so ill-tempered and 

 furious that, if the horse does not obey the slightest intima- 

 tions of their will, they rush for the nearest cudgel, and 

 commence beating him over the head. 



Permanent deafness is not unfrequently caused by such 

 violence. There are many horses in this country either 

 w^holly or partially deaf in one or both ears. How^ common 

 it is to find horses that seem never to hear any commands 

 unless given in a very loud tone of voice, and then they 

 start suddenly, as though only just conscious of having been 

 spoken to. Sometimes the hearing is perfect upon one side, 

 but on the other it is gone entirely. 



TREATMENT. 



If the trouble is all upon the outside, the treatment for fis- 

 tula should be employed. If there is nothing more than a 

 swelling or tumor just beginning, apply the corrosive lini- 

 ment; but use the May-apple liniment when matter is al- 

 ready forming. Should there be an abscess on the outside, 

 open it at its lower extremity, and let the lancet slant up- 

 ward into the tumor. 



In case the injury is within the cavities of the head, little 

 can be done either to relieve or cure. Sometimes, however, 

 relief can be given by ejecting into the ear, with a small 

 syringe or pipe, a small quantity of the eye-wash, prepared 

 as directed in Chapter XXIV. The case will assuredly prove 

 a very obstinate one. A fatal termination is not impossible, 

 w^hile deafness is a very probable result. 



SORE EARS. 



Scabby or mangy eruptions sometimes make their appear- 

 ance on the tips of the ear, and spread downward until that 

 whole member is covered with them. These constitute a 

 genuine skin disease, resembling several other cutaneous 

 eruptions described more fully in the preceding sections of 

 this chapter. . > . 



