CROPPING. 



165 



The smell was intolerably offensive, and the dog was reduced almost to a 

 skeleton. I was, for the second time, sent for to see the case. I imme- 

 diately recommended that the animal should be destroyed ; but this was not 

 permitted. I then ordered that it should daily be carefully washed, and 

 diluted tincture of myrrh be applied to the wounds. They showed no dis- 

 position to heal, and the dog gradually sunk under the continued discharge 

 and died. 



Violent Affection of the Ear. 20th May, 1828. A spaniel screamed 

 violently, even when it was not touched, and held its head permanently on 

 one side, as if the muscles were contracted. The glands beneath the ear 

 were enlarged, but the bowels were regular ; the nose was not hot ; there 

 was no cough. A warm bath was ordered, with aperient medicine. 



On the 22nd she was no better. I examined the case more carefully. 

 The left ear Was exceedingly hot and tender : she would scarcely bear me 

 to touch it. I continued the aperient medicine, and ordered a warm lotion 

 to be applied, consisting of the liquor plumbi acetatis and infusion of digi- 

 talis. She improved from the first application of it, and in a few days was 

 quite well. A fortnight afterwards the pain returned. The lotion was 

 employed, but not with the same success. A seton was then applied. She 

 wore it only four days, when the pain completely disappeared. 



I have an account in my records of the conduct of a coward, who, 

 coming from such a breed, was not worthy of the trouble we took with 

 him. He was a Newfoundland dog, two years old, with considerable en- 

 largement, redness, and some discharge from both ears. He was sent to 

 our hospital for treatment. When no one was near him, he shook his head 

 and scratched his ears, and howled dreadfully. Many times in the course 

 of the day he cried as if we were murdering him. We sent him home 

 thoroughly well, and glad we were to get rid of him. 



Cropping of the Ears. I had some doubt, whether I ought not to 

 omit the mention of this cruel practice. Mr. Blaine very properly says, 

 that " it is one that does not honour the inventor, for nature gives nothing 

 in vain. Beauty and utility appear in all when properly examined, but in 

 unequal degrees. In some, beauty is pre-eminent ; while, in others, utility 

 appears to have been the principal consideration. That must, therefore, 

 be a false taste, that has taught us to prefer a curtailed organ to a perfect 

 one, without gaining any convenience by the operation." He adds, and it 

 is my only excuse for saying one word about the matter, that " custom 

 being now fixed, directions are proper for its performance." 



The owner of the dog commences with maiming him while a puppy. He 

 finds fault with the ears that nature has given him, and they are rounded 

 or cut into various shapes, according to his whim or caprice. It is a 

 cruel operation. A great deal of pain is inflicted by it, and it is often a 

 long time before the edge of the wound will heal : a fortnight or three 

 vreeks at least will elapse ere the animal is free from pain. 



It has been pleaded, and I would be one of the last to oppose the plea, 

 that the ears of many dogs are rounded on account of the ulcers which 

 attack and rend the conch ; because animals with short ears defend them- 

 selves most readily from the attacks of others ; because, in their combats 

 ^vith each other, they generally endeavour to lay hold of the neck or the 

 oars ; and, therefore, when their ears are shortened, they have considerable 

 advantage over their adversary. There is some truth in this plea ; but, 

 otherwise, the operation of cropping is dependent on caprice or fashion. 



