AILMENTS AND ILLNESSES 69 



I have never seen but one case of " hide-bound " in 

 a house-dog, and that not in a toy. The skin was 

 thickened and hard. Although the complaint is an in- 

 teresting one from its rarity, that same fortunate quality 

 renders it unnecessary for me to enter into the question 

 a veterinary surgeon must undertake such a case. 



The Ears. The ears in toy dogs are often the seat 

 of a slight congestion which has no particular cause, 

 but is more common in some individuals than others, 

 and generally occurs at intervals in those subjects 

 which have once had it. If taken early, the cure of 

 an attack is very simple ; but if neglected, the congested 

 state may increase and culminate in inflammation of 

 the middle ear, otitis, and the bugbear " canker," of 

 which we hear so much, and which is really extremely 

 rare. There are many stages of the trouble, from- the 

 slightly hot and red external ear, which causes the dog 

 to put two claws in the passage and try to scratch it, 

 and sometimes succeed in making a sore place thereby, 

 through the phases of rubbing the side of the head on 

 the carpet or ground, groaning and shaking the head 

 violently, and other manifestations of pain, up to the 

 existence of real canker, when there is much soreness 

 and redness externally, with swelling of the meatus, or 

 passage, a profuse and very dark brown discharge, and 

 a very disagreeable odour. 



There is always a slight characteristic smell about a 

 " bad ear," which any experienced person can recognise 

 in an instant, often before any other sign of trouble is 

 seen. Some dogs most, in fact need watching in 

 this respect. The moment the toy is seen to be a little 

 one-sided as to head, or evinces any disposition to scratch 

 his ear, a small lump of boric ointment should be put in 

 the meatus, pushed in with the little finger, and worked 

 about until it melts down into the passage and convolu- 

 tions. Next day the ear may be cleaned out with the 

 tip of the little finger covered with a very soft hand- 

 kerchief, and the ointment again used, and this, in slight 



