640 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



because the lining membrane of the meatus, by mistaken treatment, has been rendered a 

 weakened part for life. If \vc want to treat a dog according to correct principles, we must 

 not forget, to begin with, that the primary symptoms of canker point to a constitutional aberration 

 from the standard of liealth. 



Our advice, then, is, whenever you find a dog showing the first signs of canker, take the 

 case in hand at once. Do not begin by pouring strong lotions into his ear. The ear is such 

 a very tender organ, disease and inflammation are so easily induced therein, that harsh inter- 

 ference is positively sinful. 



Begin by giving the dog a dose of some mild aperient, either simple castor oil, or, better 

 still, from one to four drachms of Epsom salts, with a dust of quinine in it. Let the dog have 

 good nourishing diet, but do not let him over-eat. Let him have green, well-boiled vegetables 

 in his food to cool him, a nice warm bed, exercise, but not to heat him, and try to make him 

 in every way comfortable. Then give him a tonic pill of sulphate of quinine, sulphate of iron, 

 and dandelion extract. 



Local treatment. We all know the soothing effect of a nice hot fomentation. Why, the 

 very dogs themselves do. See how gently they cleanse a sore with their warm tongues ; see, 

 again, how a dog with canker will wet the joint at his pastern and apply it to his ear. And 

 so we say fomentation is all that is needed in the early stages. Place cotton wadding gently 

 in each ear, lest one drop gets in to increase the irritation ; then apply your fomentation to 

 both sides of the ear at once, using four flannels or four woollen socks. A quarter of an hour 

 will be long enough each time. 



But if the dog has been neglected in the beginning, and the discharge allowed to increase, 

 and probably become purulent, then our chance of resolving the inflammation has passed, 

 and local applications are needed. The disease has now become chronic, and canker is fairly 

 established. 



In addition now to doing everything we can to establish the dog's health and keep him 

 well up, avoid letting him go into the water, and avoid also all risk of letting him catch cold ; 

 and you must also use a lotion for the ear. 



Previously to pouring in the lotion, be careful to wash out the matter from the dog's ears 

 as gently as possible. Purchase half an ounce of the red salt called permanganate of potash, 

 dissolve this in two pints of water, and pour as much of the solution into the warm water you 

 use as will redden it. 



We give several astringent lotions for canker. The first we should try is the infusion of green 

 tea. It should be strong enough to resemble the colour of pale brandy, and if it is used 

 lukewarm all the better. Then we have a lotion of dried alum, from one grain to five to an 

 ounce of distilled water ; or nitrate of silver, sulphate of copper, or sulphate of cadmium, which 

 are used in the same proportions. Lastly, but not least, we have the liquor plumbi snbacetatis, 

 ten to twenty drops to an ounce of water, to which a little glycerine may be added, but greasy 

 mixtures, should, we think, be avoided. 



They are all of them good, and it is not a bad plan to change them occasionally, and stick 

 most to that which seems to decrease the discharge. To prevent the animal shaking the head, 

 and increasing the disease, it is better to confine the head in a canker-cap. 



Let me, however, impress upon you that you are to look upon canker of the ear as a 

 distressing symptom of ill-health, for it is seldom indeed unaccompanied by degeneracy of the 

 constitution. You will often find arsenic and iron work wonders if steadily persevered in, as 

 recommended in the article on ekzema, 



