68 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERV. 



for example, have " prick " ears when the ears should droop ; to 

 effect this " droop " temporarily pieces of leather or weights are 

 affixed, usually by the aid of some adhesive substance such as 

 cobbler's wax ; absence or disarrangement of hair on the surface 

 of the ear gives rise to suspicion of this having been done. To 

 effect a permanent droop the cartilage is nicked in one or two 

 selected places on its under surface, care being taken not to 

 wound the upper skin. Close examination of the under surface 

 will reveal a scar or several scars the cicatrised tissue being 

 whiter than the other part. 



Another method adopted consists in incising the skin at the 

 edge of the upper surface almost at the base of the ear ; a fine 

 probe pointed bistoury, the blade of which is introduced flatwise, 

 is then inserted subcutaneously and has its sharp edge drawn 

 across the muscle which is pulling the ear in the objectionable 

 direction. When neatly done this is very difficult, and in some 

 cases quite impossible, to detect, as even if a small scar is found 

 it may readily be passed over as being due to a bite or other 

 injury. 



