164 THE EAR AND ITS DISEASES. 



The first experiment was on a setter with canker in his ear. The owner 

 of the dog had ordered it to be hanged, as all remedies had failed in pro- 

 ducing a cure. Herr Maassen prescribed creosoti 3ss. et spirit, vini rec- 

 tificat. sij. This mixture was applied once in every day to the diseased 

 part. In a few weeks the dog was completely cured, and has since had no 

 return of the complaint. In a terrier, and also in three spaniels, the 

 effect of this application was equally satisfactory. In some cases, where 

 the disease showed itself in a less degree, the creosote was dissolved in 

 water, instead of spirit of wine. It is always necessary to take away the 

 collar while the dog is under treatment, in order that the flap of the ear 

 may not be injured by striking against it. 



Vegetating Excrescences in the Ear. (By F. J. J. Rigot.) Produc- 

 tions of this kind, which he had the opportunity of observing only once, 

 are sometimes united in masses, and completely close the auditive canal. 

 The surface is granulated and black, and there escapes from it an unctuous 

 fetid discharge. On both sides the animal is exceedingly susceptible of 

 pain, and the excrescences bleed if the slightest pressure is brought to 

 bear upon them. 



He thought it right to cut away these excrescences bodily, which he 

 found to be composed of a strong dense tissue, permitting much blood to 

 escape through an innumerable quantity of vascular openings. They 

 were reproduced with extreme promptitude after they had been cut off or 

 cauterized. Some of them appeared no more after being destroyed by the 

 nitrate of mercury. 



Sometimes, however, twenty -four hours after a simple incision, riot fol- 

 lowed by cauterization, these productions acquire an almost incredible 

 size. It seemed, in M. Rigot's case, to be impossible to conquer the evil, 

 and the patient was destroyed. 



Eruptions in the Ear. A Newfoundland dog had long been subject to 

 mangy eruptions on the back and in the feet. They had suddenly dis- 

 appeared, and the whole of the inside of the ear became covered with scaly 

 eruptions. The skin was red ; there was considerable thickening of the 

 ear, and a discharge from the base of it. The canker-lotion was used, a 

 physic-ball given every second day, and a seton inserted in the poll reach- 

 ing from ear to ear. No apparent benefit resulted. A little calamine 

 ointment, to which was added one-eighth part of mercurial ointment, was 

 then tried, and considerable benefit immediately experienced. The dog 

 no longer continued to scratch himself or to shake his head, and the ear 

 became clean and cool. The seton was removed, and nothing remained 

 but a little occasional redness, which the lotion very soon dispersed. 



The owner, however, became ultimately tired of all this doctoring, and 

 the animal was destroyed. 



A poodle had had exceedingly bad ears during several months. There 

 was considerable discharge, apparently giving much pain. The dog was 

 continually shaking his head and crying. A seton was introduced, the 

 canker-lotion was resorted to, and alterative and purgative medicines ex- 

 hibited. On the 29th of December the discharge from the ear ceased ; 

 but, owing to the neglect of the servant, it soon broke out again, and there 

 was not only much excoriation under the ear, but, from the matting of the 

 hair, deep ulcers formed on either side, the edges of the wound were ragged, 

 and the skin was detached from the muscular parts beneath. Probes were 

 introduced on each side, which passed down the neck and nearly met. 



