Symbiotic Acariasis of the Ear in Cats. 205 



by the presence in the ear of the scaly ceruminous debris, and 

 above all by the presence of the acarus. It is also noticeable that 

 it attacks all ages, and not mainly the young which suffer most 

 from verminous epilepsy, that it attacks a number of dogs kept 

 together thereby bespeaking contagion, and that for a length of 

 time, it is only shown when the dog is subjected to active exer- 

 cise. In all cases of epilepsy however it is well to look for this 

 parasite. 



Treatment. The ear may be first cleaned and syringed out 

 with a two per cent, solution of carbolic acid ; it may then be 

 dried and injected with the following : naphthol 24 drops, sul- 

 phuric ether i dr., olive oil ^ oz.; close the opening for 10 or 15 

 minutes with cotton wool. As an alternate, carbon bisulphide 25 

 drops in alcohol, J^ oz. may be used. Or an aqueous solution of 

 lysol (1:100). Sewell recommends ointment of nitrate of mer- 

 cury I dr., olive oil i oz. 



SYMBIOTIC ACARIASIS OF THE EAR IN CATS. 

 OTACARIASIS. 



Otacariasis in Cats. Symbiotes Auricularum v. Caii : Itching, scratcli- 

 itig, delirium, stupor, vertigo, convulsions ; excess of cerumen in ear with 

 acari. Treatment: As in dog. Otacariasis in ferret: Inactive, lazy, 

 drowsy, scratches ear, excess of cerumen with acari ; tympanic and middle 

 €ar inflammation, temporal caries, meningitis. Treatment: As in cat. 



This is due to Symbiotes Auricularum var. Cati, of which 

 the ovigerous female is .45 to .47 mm., and the male .3 to .32 

 mm. long. 



The symptoms are intense itching, scratching and attacks of 

 delirium so that on different occasions the cats were killed as 

 rabid In other cases they became stupid, vertiginous, unable to 

 walk, and rolled over on the side when they tried to sit up. 

 Convulsions have not been noticed. Inside the ear is an ac- 

 cumulation of cerumen on and in which may be detected the 

 moving acari as fine white or grayish points. 



Treatment does not differ from that advised for the dog and 

 need not be repeated. 



