8o CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



s^\•elling on the under surface. In its early stages this is 

 exceedingly tender to pressure, but after it has existed for 

 some days, unless repeatedly bruised, this tenderness passes 

 off. It may be only the size of half a filbert, or it may 

 extend the whole length of the ear. If left without treat- 

 ment the fluid may become absorbed, but the ear is usually 

 left deformed and crinkled. Even when treatment is adopted, 

 this untoward sequel sometimes follows. 



Fig. 52. — Hcematoma of the Ear-flap before and after Operation. 



The top figure shows the crinkled appearance which often occurs if no operation is 



performed. 



Operation. — A common method of treatment consists in 

 merely lancing the under surface of the ear-flap, carefully 

 pressing out its contents, and treating the wound anti- 

 septically. Some practitioners excise a large triangular or 

 elliptical piece from the under surface, and afterwards insert 

 a plug of cotton-wool or to^^■, in order to prevent too rapid 

 healing by keeping the edges of the ^^•ound apart, or inject 

 concentrated solutions of iodine. 



Another method consists in inserting a seton tape through 

 the swollen under part, and so endeavouring to keep up a 



