CANKER IN THE EAR. ' 117 



crackles, and tenderness is expressed. When canker has re- 

 mained long-, the internal ear becomes closed, and the hear- 

 ing* lost: now and then the ulceration penetrates inwards, 

 and destroys the dog. I have also known instances where 

 the ulceration has assumed a cancerous appearance, and ex- 

 tended itself over the face. 



This complaint appears to have also another source besides 

 over- feeding", heat, and confinement; which is, the action of 

 water within the ears. It is remarkable that all dog-s, who 

 frequent the water much, are more particularly disposed to 

 canker than others. Any kind of dog* may contract it thus, 

 particularly when aided by artificial habits; hut Newfound- 

 land dogs, poodles, and water spaniels, are liable to it when 

 not so artificially treated. Perhaps the length of hair around 

 their ears, not only keeps these parts hot, but also retains 

 the water within, and thus encourages an afflux of fluids or 

 humours, as they are termed, to them. That the water has 

 this tendency is certain, for I have frequently seen it re- 

 moved, by merely keeping such dogs from the water ; that 

 is, in those cases where the feeding and exercise were pro- 

 portionate, and the fatness has not been inordinate. 



The cure, it is rational to conclude, must be either simple, 

 . or more complicated, according to the cause producing the 

 disease. Whenever there is much fatness and fulness of habit, 

 or when the dog has been subjected to much confinement in 

 a hot close situation, these circumstances must be immediately 

 rectified. Abstinence and purgatives will reduce the fat ; a 

 cooler situation must be chosen, open and unrestrained ; full 

 exercise must be allowed to assist also in giving another di- 

 rection to the fluids. In those cases where there are symp- 

 toms of a constitutional foulness, which shew themselves by a 

 red itching skin, stinking coat, and mangy eruptions; in such, 

 in addition to exercise, a vegetable diet, cleansing alter- 

 atives, and occasional purges, should be given. See Alter- 

 atives. — In very bad cases, a seton may be properly intro- 

 duced in the neck, and suffered to remain there, until the 



