78 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



should always be applied as gently as possible, because, 

 especially when wounded or irritated, it is extremely sensitive. 



It is worth while to note here that a dog which is totally deaf is dis- 

 qualified from competition (or from receiving a prize if awarded) in any 

 show held under Kennel Club rules. 



Polypi, Tumours, and Enlarg-ed Ceruminous Glands. 



Symptoms. — Abnormal growths in the ear are not un- 

 common in dogs and cats, and cause a good deal of irritation 

 to the patient. The animal shakes its head, frequently holds 

 it on one side, rubs the affected ear on the ground, constantly 

 scratches the base of the ear and yells or moans with pain. 

 Deafness is a common sequel. 



Operation. — If the growth has a pedicle, its removal is best 

 effected with curette, a ligature or fine ecraseur, the parts 

 being painted ^\•ith cocaine. In other cases, under a general 



anaesthetic, the scalpel or a 

 pair of curved scissors must 

 be used, haemorrhage being 

 checked by the application 

 of tampons of cotton-wool 

 soaked in some stj'ptic salt 

 (as perchloride of iron solution 

 or adrenalin) and pressure ; 



Fig. 5o.-Avery's Speculum. Or the root ma}' be touched 



^\•ith the point of a fine 

 thermo-cautery. Subsequent treatment must be left to the 

 discretion of the operator, as frequently these growths are 

 ver)' troublesome, and they (or others of the same varietN-) 

 reappear larger than ever after a few months, being either 

 malignant or multiple in character. This is especially the 

 case \\ith papillomas and enlarged ceruminous glands, and it 

 is not uncommon for so much constitutional disturbance to 

 be caused that the most humane course to adopt is painlessly 

 to destroy the patient. In an ordinary case, to carefully 



