CHAPTER XIII. 
DISEASES OF THE EAR. 
1. Deafness. 
Deafness is difficult to detect in many cases, and if long 
standing impossible to cure. 
Causes. — Horses subjected to a great deal of noise — 
artillery horses, etc. — are more liable to develop deafness. It 
may be the result of a diseased condition of the nerve of 
hearing or the drum of the ear. 
Symptoms. — A deaf horse frequently appears to be stub- 
born. Not being able to hear, he appears not to be capable of 
obeying the word of command. 
Treatment. — Little can be done. Place a twitch on the 
nose and pour a little sweet oil in the ear every day. This is 
sometimes a help. 
2. Injuries or Cuts Around the Ear. 
If the skin or cartilage is torn, put a twitch on the 
horse's nose and with a needle such as is used for sewing 
skin cuts draw the wound together with stitches of carriage 
trimmer's twine ; bathe well with warm water twice a day 
and apply the white lotion until healed. 
3. Diseases of the Cartilage. 
Causes. — This disease is generally caused by an injury 
of some kind. 
Symptoms. — It festers and breaks every month or so 
where diseased. 
Treatment.— Place a twitch on the nose, or if inclined to 
be ugly, cast him in the ordinary way. This gives a better 
chance to operate with less risk to the horse. With a sharp 
knife split the skin and tissues to expose the diseased cartil- 
age. Scrape this out and burn the wound thus made with 
caustic potash. This generally sets up a healthy action and 
it soon heals. 
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