282 CANKER IN THE EAR. 



this state, it proceeds to ulceration, when the internal part of the 

 ear, instead of being filled with dry blood as before, will be found 

 always moist with purulent matter. The dog now continually 

 shakes his head from the intolerable itching ; and, if the root of 

 the ear be pressed, the pus within crackles, and much tenderness * 

 is expressed. When canker has remained long, the auditory canal 

 becomes closed, and the hearing lost : now and then the ulceration 

 penetrates deeply inwards, and destroys the dog. I have also 

 known instances where the ulceration has assumed a cancerous 

 appearance, and extended 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 ; for it may be observed, that all dogs who fre- 

 quent the water much are more disposed to canker than others. 

 Any kind of dog may contract it thus, particularly when aided by 

 artificial habits, as heat, confinement, and high living ; but New- 

 foundland 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 wa- 

 ter within, and thus encourages an afflux of fluids or humours, as 

 they are tei-med, to them. That the water has this tendency is 

 certain, for I have frequently seen it removed by merely keeping 

 such dogs from entering it ; that is, in those cases where the feed- 

 ing and exercise were proportionate, 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 fulness of habit, and the dog is very fat, 

 or when he has been subjected to much confinement in a hot close 

 situation, these circumstances must be immediately rectified. Ab- 

 stinence and purgatives will reduce the fat; a cooler situation 

 must be chosen, but it must be dry and pure ; exercise also must 

 be allowed, to assist in giving another direction to the fluids. In 

 cases where there are symptoms of a constitutional foulness, which 

 shew themselves by a red itching skin, stinking coat, and mangy 



