CANKER IN THE EAR. 283 



eruptions ; in addition to exercise, a vegetable diet, cleansing 

 alteratives., and occasional purges, should be given. — See Altera- 

 tives, In very bad cases a seton may be properly introduced in 

 the neck and suffered to remain there until the benefit derived 

 from it is very apparent. When the cankered dog is very fat, 

 occasional bleeding is also beneficial. 



External applications are likewise essential to the cure and in 

 some mild cases are all that are necessary, particularly where it 

 may be supposed that swimming much, or too frequent washing, 

 may have principally tended to produce the complaint. In the 

 early stages, a wash composed of half a drachm of superacetate 

 (sugar J of lead, dissolved in four ounces of rose or rain water, is 

 often all that is necessary. A small tea-spoonful may be intro- 

 duced (previously warmed to a blood heat, to prevent surprise and 

 consequent resistance) night and morning, rubbing the root of the 

 ear at the same time, to promote the entrance of the wash into 

 the cavities. In more obstinate cases, it is prudent to add fifteen 

 or twenty grains of vitriolated zinc (white vitriol) to the wash ; 

 and if, instead of water, a decoction of oak bark is made use of to 

 form the wash, it will greatly promote the end desired. In some 

 cases, acetate of copper (verdigris ), mixed with oil, has proved 

 beneficial when introduced in the same manner. In others, sub- 

 muriate of quicksilver (calomel) and oil have produced amendment 

 when applied in the same way. A very weak injection of the 

 oxymuriate of quicksilver (corrosive sublimate) has sometimes 

 succeeded when every other application has failed. A very mild 

 injection of nitrate of silver, as one grain to two ounces of water, 

 has done much good. A seton inserted in the poll has also proved 

 very useful. When the dog is inclined to resist the introduction of 

 any ear-wash, two assistants are required, one to hold the head of 

 the dog by his muzzle, using the other hand to open the cavity of 

 the root of the ear. 



