62 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



or near the edge of the concha. In most cases it occurs as a compli- 

 cation of otitis resulting from the bruising caused by violent or 

 constant shaking of the flaps, and it is then usually bilateral. It 

 may also result from traumatism and may develop as a manifes- 

 tation of eczema. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. One or more raw or scab-covered 

 ulcers are observed, with sensitive edematous edges. When 

 raw, and the flaps are violently shaken, blood may be swished in 

 all directions. The disease is generally progressive owing to the 

 incessant irritation of the shaking. 



Treatment. When uncomplicated with otitis this lesion is 

 very stubborn and unresponsive to treatment. The flap should first 

 be soaked in a moderately hot antiseptic solution, and the same 

 treatment pursued as advocated for otorrhea, viz., application of 

 distilled aqueous nitrate of silver or protargol solution (3:100 — 

 5:100), twice daily, supplemented with xeroform or other analgesic 

 antiseptic powder to which a little orthoform may be added to get 

 a more pronounced anodyne effect. At the same time the ears 

 should be securely bound to the head, as further shaking counter- 

 acts all good effect of treatment. Failing in this after perseverance 

 a reasonable length of time, a portion of the flap must be ampu- 

 tated in as artistic a manner as possible. 



When developing as a complication of otitis, treatment is seldom 

 necessary, the inflammation usually subsiding as the primary 

 trouble disappears with treatment. 



OTITIS. OTORRHEA. 



Inflammation of the ear is a very common affection, particu- 

 larly in long-eared animals. It is usually unilateral but it may be 

 bilateral. It exhibits all the phenomena of inflammation and ter- 

 minates in ulceration. The disease has been attributed to a variety 

 of causes, such as excessive animal diet or lack of exercise, but these 

 conditions bear little relation to it. In the great majority of cases, 

 it is a purely local pyogenic infection engendered by irritation pro- 

 duced by accumulation of cerumen and dirt. Such accumulation is 

 particularly provocative of irritation in ears with pendant flaps, 

 in which ventilation cannot freely take place. It is for the latter 

 reason that the disease is less common in animals -with erect or 

 cropped ears. There is also a parasitic form of the disease caused 



