MAGGOTS IN THE EAR. 205 
eye of an ordinary sewing-needle, will be observed. These he believed to be 
parasites, and the cause of some cases of canker. “They may be seen running 
about the skin, and also along the hairs in the ear at a fairly rapid rate consid- 
ering their minute size.” Again he says: “I have never been able to find the 
acari anywhere else about the dog but in the ear; in truth, they do not seem to 
wander outside the canal and crevices formed by the cartilage, not even upon 
the flap of the ear, either inside or out. They vary in numbers — sometimes one 
can only find a few, about twenty; in other cases they are present in hundreds, 
lying in clusters, like heaps of fine white powder. I have also frequently found 
these same parasites in cats’ ears, and in some cases they induce rather extraor- 
dinary symptoms, the cat being almost unable to walk. In fact, when it at- 
tempts to do so, the animal rolls about as if intoxicated, frequently falling over 
on its side. I have never seen the acarus produce the same symptoms in the dog.” 
Where this parasite is present and troublesome, the appearance of the ear 
differs but slightly, if any, from ordinary otitis. There seems, however, to be 
less discharge. The head is carried to one side, and from time to time the dog 
whines, and scratches the affected ear gently with his paw. One author de- 
scribes, as an effect, epileptiform fits, in which the victim emits a peculiar, 
husky cry, and rushing wildly about, running into various obstacles, finally falls 
insensible ; and after a number of such attacks becomes totally deaf. 
The parasite is said to be readily destroyed by mercurial ointment, which 
should be diluted as follows: Ointment of the nitrate of mercury, one-half a 
drachm ; simple ointment, four drachms. A little of this should be applied, 
morning and night, to the inner surface of the ear, and carried into the passage 
as deeply as possible, by means of a bit of cotton on the end of a wooden 
toothpick. 
MAGGOTS IN THE EAR. 
Several cases are on record in which maggots were found in the ears of dogs. 
The insect from which they came was probably the blow-fly, and after in- 
vading the ear it doubtless remained long enough therein to “blow”; and in 
one instance the number of maggots hatched out were over one hundred. 
Pain appeared to be the most pronounced symptom produced, and the con- 
duct of the victims while under the infliction closely resembled that of dogs 
suffering from severe attacks of otitis. 
Turpentine was used in one instance and sweet oil in another, and both with 
good effect, the maggots speedily crawling from the ear passages. 
Doubtless no better remedy can be recommended than the oil of turpentine, 
which has for a long time had the reputation of being a strong antagonist to 
larval life. 
